Social media posts from Jones College
2026 Honor Alumni Spotlight: Legacy Award Recipient J. Terrell Williams
Ellisville, MS – This year’s 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’s 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: “Education is not a destination-it is a lifelong process.” 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’ journey reflects the lasting impact of education and the importance of remaining curious, embracing challenges, and continuing to learn.
2026 Honor Alumni Spotlight: Achievement and Excellence Award Recipients Justin Archer Burch and Sean McDonald
Ellisville, MS – This year’s 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’s leadership network and is a member of the Obama Foundation’s 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’ 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’s 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.
2026 Honor Alumni Spotlight: Rising Star Award Recipient Sabrina Sagers Brownlee
Ellisville, MS – This year’s 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’s 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 91ÁÔĆć 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’s journey reflects the lasting impact of a Jones College education and the opportunities that begin as a Bobcat.
Ready to Serve: Jones College Health Sciences Graduates Celebrate Summer Success
Ellisville, MS – For dozens of Jones College students, summer 2026 marked more than the completion of a program. It marked the beginning of a new chapter – one built through long hours, hands-on training, determination, and, for many, sacrifices made both inside and outside of the classroom.
Students from several programs within the Jones College School of Health Sciences celebrated graduation and pinning ceremonies this summer, including Pharmacy Technology, Cosmetology, Practical Nursing, and Emergency Medical Technology/Paramedic programs. From future nurses, paramedics, and pharmacy technicians to cosmetology professionals, graduates are now prepared to take the skills they developed at Jones into communities across Mississippi and beyond.
Paramedic Graduates Achieve 100 Percent Certification Pass Rate
For Jones College’s paramedic graduates, success came almost immediately after their pinning ceremony.
Within just 24 hours of being pinned, 100 percent of the graduating Paramedic class had passed the required certification examination, meaning every graduate became a certified paramedic within a day of completing the program.
Among those celebrating the milestone was Brooke Moore, whose journey through Jones College’s Emergency Medical Services programs began with EMT in 2022 and continued through Advanced EMT and Paramedic training. After previously completing the Paramedic program but struggling to pass the certification exam, Moore returned to Jones determined to reach her goal. In 2026, she completed the program again and joined her classmates in achieving the historic 100 percent pass rate.
The accomplishment reflects both the preparation provided through Jones College’s Emergency Medical Technology program and the commitment of students entering a profession where knowledge, quick decision-making and the ability to remain calm under pressure can directly impact lives.
Summer 2026 Paramedic graduates were:
Kelli Allen – Jones County
Phillip Boyd – Jones County
Hunter Emfinger – Covington County
Leah Green – Jasper County
Dustin Lucas – Copiah County
Holly Norris – Greene County
Ashtin Parnell – Jones County
Stefani Pickering – Jones County
Practical Nursing Graduates Celebrate the Finish Line
For students completing Jones College’s Practical Nursing program, reaching graduation often represents an accomplishment shared by an entire family.
This summer, Jones celebrated Practical Nursing graduates through two pinning ceremonies – one for students at the Ellisville campus and one for students at the Jasper County Learning Center campus.
The fast-paced and academically demanding program requires significant commitment, but many students complete it while carrying responsibilities that extend well beyond the classroom. Some are single parents or care for other dependents, and many work while attending school to support themselves and their families.
Balancing those responsibilities with classes, clinical experiences, studying, and exams makes reaching the pinning ceremony especially meaningful.
During each ceremony, students were also recognized with individual awards. At the Jasper County pinning ceremony, Cera Thompson received the Florence Nightingale Award, Shantoni Jones received the Academic Award, and Raven Walker received the Rising Star Award.
Jasper County Practical Nursing graduates were:
Alexis House-Walker – Jasper County
Jacey Mangrum – Smith County
Shantoni Jones – Jasper County
Lily Null – Lauderdale County
Alexus Jones – Jasper County
Raven Walker – Newton County
Asheala Horne – Smith County
Craylan Chapman – Clarke County
Dakota Blakeney – Smith County
Anna Lee Guy – Smith County
Cera Jones Thompson – Jasper County
Nick Hillman – Smith County
Laura McKinley – Jasper County
At the Ellisville pinning ceremony, Holly Miles received the Florence Nightingale Award, Sarah Kelly received the Academic Award, and Zaida Morales received the Rising Star Award.
Bailey Sims – Forrest County
Brandon Pack – Covington County
Breazae Redwood – Smith County
Byesha Williamson – Wayne County
Cquarria Lynn – Wayne County
Gracie Bates – Perry County
Hailey Graves – Jones County
Holly Miles – Mahoning County (Ohio)
Jasmine Dampier – Pike County
Jennie Wilson Lee – Jones County
Jhai’Maiya Young – Scott County
Jkylon Lawrence – Perry County
Keila Escamilla – Jones County
Keoshia McNair – Smith County
Malaika Lowe – Harrison County
Markel Parker – Wayne County
Mea Cooley – Wayne County
Rolexis George – Wayne County
Roselyn Roshell Williams – Smith County
Sabrina Rena Barnett – Jasper County
Samantha McAfee-Williams – Simpson County
Sarah Nicole Kelly – Lowndes County
Shaniya Tyriel Evans – Wayne County
Vanteshia Preston – Lawrence County
Zaida Morales – Jones County
Alexis Rayne Hendry – Jasper County
Madison Nikole Worrell – Simpson County
Abigayle Grace Marek – Forrest County
Claire Carpenter – Lamar County
Ty’Kerria Feazell – Smith County
Kelsey Graves – Smith County
Patience Pettis – Lamar County
Pharmacy Technology Graduates Ready to Serve
Eight students also completed Jones College’s Pharmacy Technology program this summer, preparing them for careers that place them alongside pharmacists and other healthcare professionals in serving patients and helping ensure medications are prepared and distributed safely.
The Summer 2026 Pharmacy Technology graduates were:
Kelsey Butler – Smith County
Emma Fulcher – Jones County
Asia Jones – Jasper County
Kylan Kinsey – Forrest County
Kassidy Shirley – Wayne County
Brianna Wade – Jones County
Tykeivia Watts – Clarke County
Kristiona Williams – Jones County
Cosmetology Graduates Turn Skills into Careers
Twenty students completed Jones College’s Cosmetology program this summer, including Katelyn Horn of Smith County, who was recognized as Top of the Class.
Through classroom instruction and hands-on experience, Cosmetology students develop technical and professional skills that prepare them to pursue careers in an industry centered on creativity, client care, and personal service.Â
Summer 2026 Cosmetology graduates were:
Katelyn Horn – Smith County
Damaris DeJesus – Jones County
Katie Dunn – Rankin County
Johana Gabriel – Covington County
Macy Herrington – Lamar County
Briuna Keys – Jones County
Hannah Latham – Jones County
Audrey Maggard – Jones County
Emoree McNeil – Harrison County
Sarah McCree – Wayne County
Kaylee Newman – Wayne County
Sophia Paule’ – Shelby County (Tennessee)
Johanna Blaire Pope – Covington County
Kathryn Randazzo – Pearl River County
Tiyanequa Rigsby – Perry County
Gracie Roberts – George County
Shelby Robertson, Sr. – Jones County
Kennedy Williams – Jasper County
Raven T’Lyiah Wolfe – Covington County
Kansas Young – Walthall County
While their programs and career paths may look different, Jones College’s summer health sciences graduates share something in common: each reached a milestone that required commitment, persistence, and a willingness to keep moving forward.
For some, graduation means beginning a first career. For others, it represents a new opportunity, a career change,ge or the chance to provide greater stability for their families. And for many, the people waiting in the audience at their pinning or graduation ceremony were part of the journey, too.
The skills these graduates gained at Jones will now travel with them into hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, emergency response agencies, salons, and communities throughout the region.
Their time at Jones may have just been a stop along the way, but summer 2026 proved just how far that road can lead.
One Desk, Thousands of Conversations: The Impact of LaTrece Evans
Ellisville, MS – For LaTrece Evans, the heart of Jones College has always been its students.
On any given day, it isn’t unusual to find students gathered around Evans’ desk in the Jones College Administration Building. Some arrive with questions, while others need help solving a problem. And some simply stop by just to talk.
No matter the reason, Evans wants them to leave knowing one thing: they matter.
“I want them, whenever they come in, to make sure they were heard,”, Evans said. “They were made to feel important, and I guess that they just matter, because you don’t always get that everywhere.”
Her ability to connect with students comes, in part, from knowing what it feels like to need a little reassurance herself.
Evans didn’t follow the traditional path to college. At 46, she returned to the classroom at Jones as a nontraditional student, admittedly terrified about starting over. She was navigating real-life responsibilities and challenges while also wondering whether she could still succeed academically.
She quickly proved to herself that she could.
Evans remembers comparing grades with her then 17-year-old son after their first semester. When he proudly announced his 3.97 GPA, she celebrated his accomplishment before revealing one of her own.
“Mom is so proud,” she recalled telling him. “But Mama got a 4.0!”
Behind the humor was an accomplishment that meant much more than a number.
“I think that’s what I’m most proud of, is that I was finally able to overcome the, â€Oh my goodness, I can’t do this’,” Evans said. “I am going to do it, and I’m going to do it well.”
The experience now allows Evans to recognize the same uncertainty in students who come through her door. Some are fresh out of high school and learning to navigate college for the first time, while others are returning years later, wondering whether they waited too long. Some have strong support systems waiting for them at home, while others may be trying to figure out everything on their own.
Evans wants all of them to know there is a place for them at Jones.
“Your road doesn’t have to be the same as others,” she said. “It’s just never too late. If it’s truly a dream, then one day it’s obtainable.”
And for anyone convinced they are simply too old or that their opportunity has passed, Evans has an even shorter answer.
“The devil is a lie,” she said.
Her own experience as a student ultimately inspired the kind of employee she wanted to become.
“My experience was so great that it just inspired me to make sure that I wanted to give the same, no matter if it was the traditional student coming out or the nontraditional student,” Evans said. “I wanted to make sure every student that came through there got that same experience and knew that they were cared for.”
Sometimes that care means answering a simple question about a student ID and making sure the student leaves with answers to questions they didn’t even know they had. Other times, the need is much greater.
Evans has helped connect students with scholarships when finances threatened to end their semester. She has helped students struggling in class find the support they needed to keep going. She has connected students with counseling, jobs, and opportunities to become involved on campus.
She has even encountered students facing homelessness and stepped in to help them find stability while they continued their education.
For Evans, those moments are what define a successful day.
“That’s the success – literally knowing that I helped somebody through their day,” she said. “Regardless if it’s getting them in counseling, if it’s getting them a scholarship, if it’s getting them in Bobcat Brigade or just getting them a job.”
Her commitment to others has not gone unnoticed. From beginning her Jones journey as a student to later being named Jones College Employee of the Year, Evans has experienced firsthand how one decision to keep moving forward can lead somewhere she never expected.
But when asked what makes her want to continue showing up and giving so much of herself to Jones, her answer has little to do with awards or recognition.
“The students,” Evans said. “It is 1,000 percent the students.”
For the student who walks onto campus confident and ready, Evans is there to cheer them on. For the student who arrives unsure, overwhelmed or afraid to ask for help, she is there for them, too.
Because Evans knows firsthand that everyone’s road looks a little different. And while all roads may lead to Jones, it’s people like Evans who help students believe in where their road can take them next.