March 23, 2016

Hinds CC places 12 students on All-Mississippi Community College Academic Team

A dozen Hinds Community College students were named to the 2016 All-Mississippi Community College Academic Team, tops among the state’s 15 two-year colleges.     Honored among the 64 named…
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A dozen Hinds Community College students were named to the 2016 All-Mississippi Community College Academic Team, tops among the state’s 15 two-year colleges.

 

2016 All-Mississippi Community College Academic First Team member Natalie Blakely and Hinds President Dr. Clyde Muse

2016 All-Mississippi Community College Academic First Team member Natalie Blakely and Hinds President Dr. Clyde Muse

 

2016 All-Mississippi Community College Academic Second Team. Front row, from left, Mishael Drake, Christin Lang, Dr. Clyde Muse, Sharon Horn, Olivia Degrado. Back row, from left, Walter Harris, Jason Dillon, Harrison Hunter, Sloan Session.

2016 All-Mississippi Community College Academic Second Team. Front row, from left, Mishael Drake, Christin Lang, Dr. Clyde Muse, Sharon Horn, Olivia Degrado. Back row, from left, Walter Harris, Jason Dillon, Harrison Hunter, Sloan Session.

Honored among the 64 named to the list at a ceremony March 22 at the Jackson Convention Complex were:

  • Natalie Blakely, of Brandon, a student at the Rankin Campus, Academic First Team, engineering major
  • Olivia DeGrado, of Yazoo City, a student at the Raymond Campus, Academic Second Team, accounting major
  • Jason Dillon, of Tylertown, a student at the Jackson Campus-Nursing Allied Health Center, Academic Second Team, respiratory care technology major
  • Mishael Drake, of Vicksburg, a student at the Utica Campus, Academic Second Team, biology major
  • Kristen Dunaway, of Vicksburg, a student at the Vicksburg-Warren Campus, Academic Second Team, biology and pre-medicine major
  • Tyrus Hamilton, of Jackson, a student at the Jackson Campus-Academic-Technical Center, Academic Second Team, general studies
  • Haley Harmon, of Vicksburg, a student at the Vicksburg-Warren Campus, Academic Second Team, business major
  • Walter Harris, of Hazlehurst, a student at the Utica Campus, Academic Second Team, information systems technology major
  • Sharon Horn, of Madison, a student at the Jackson Campus-Academic/Technical Center, Academic Second Team, medical data technology and general studies major
  • Robert Harrison Hunter, of Hermanville, a student at the Raymond Campus, Academic Second Team, computer engineering major
  • Christin Lang, of Ottawa, Kan., a student at the Jackson Campus-Nursing Allied Health Center, Academic Second Team, respiratory care technology major
  • Sloan Session, of Flowood, a student at the Rankin Campus, Academic Second Team, accounting major

[tweetable alt=””]The All-Mississippi Academic Team[/tweetable], begun in 1994 as the first state-level academic recognition program for community and junior college students, recognizes the scholarly achievements and leadership accomplishments of students enrolled in community and junior colleges across the state. Team members were selected following several rounds of judging from education officials, business leaders from across the United States and a distinguished panel of representatives from federal agencies and national education associations based in Washington D.C.

Fifteen students were named to the First Team, with each receiving $1,000 scholarships. First and Second Team members receive special medallions, certificates and printed resolutions from each chamber of the Mississippi Legislature. They are also eligible for scholarships at many four-year universities designed exclusively for All-Mississippi Academic Team members.

The All-State team is coordinated by the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior College, the Mississippi Community College Board and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Dr. Gary Spears, president of Northwest Mississippi Community College, is the program chair.

The All-State Academic Team recognition program is an outgrowth of the All-USA Community College Academic Team, administered by Phi Theta Kappa. Twenty students named to the team will be featured April 12 in USA TODAY and receive $100,000 in scholarships.

UTICA – Local high school students learned a bit about the future of technology at the September 11 “Empowering the Future of Innovative TECH Leaders,” summit on the Utica Campus.

The expo was about bringing awareness to the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs at Utica and the kinds of careers people in STEM can get.

“We are committed to moving people forward to fulfill their purpose and passion, demonstrating accountability, leadership and innovation. Tech is the future. Let this event inspire you for the future of technology,” said Jonathan Townes, Vice President Instruction, Career and Technical Education.

Townes told students workers skilled in cybersecurity are in demand because the advances in technology also lead to more online vulnerabilities.

Cybersecurity providers are the “guardians of the galaxy,” Townes said. He talked about the importance of keeping businesses and institutions safe and gave examples of the crippling effect of malware on America’s digital infrastructures in healthcare, education and business.

J.J. Townsend, Community Affairs representative and Ecosystem builder for Microsoft, was introduced by Townes as a tech activist because he works to bring access to technology to rural and underserved Mississippians. He picked up on the idea of “guardians of the galaxy,” saying, “There is a critical need for skilled people to fill these jobs in Mississippi. At Microsoft we want to empower every Mississippian by giving them access to technology.”

“It is vital for our businesses, our schools, our governments to be protected from malware,” he said. “Cybersecurity crime is not a victimless crime. It really hurts people and can put their lives in jeopardy. Recall recent cases of rural hospitals and community colleges getting hit with malware. That’s the kind of thing we are fighting every day. That’s where the opportunity for you lies.”

“The industry and the need for skilled technicians is only going to grow as we move into the future. It should excite you. The entry level roles of machine-learning engineers and research scientists start out at $100,000,” Townsend said. Then he listed four steps students needed to take:

1. Get educated.
2. Stay curious, always be looking for the next greatest thing.
3. Network – talk to professionals in the business, develop relationships, learn about opportunities for work and internships.
4. Gain experience – build a reputation for excellence.

High schools represented at the event included River City Early College High School, Warren Central, Vicksburg High School, Hazlehurst High School, Forest Hill High School and Crystal Springs High School.

Students were given swag bags from Hinds as they piled into the auditorium for the cybersecurity presentation. Afterwards students went to breakout sessions where many departments had set up booths with brochures and leaflets, tools from their profession were on display, and instructors were on hand to answer questions.

Among tech companies represented at the summit were Lobaki, the Mississippi Coding Academy, Dream Innovations Inc. and NASA Community College Aerospace Schools.

Hinds offers affordable, comprehensive educational opportunities across six campus locations and has nearly 500 academic classes guaranteed to transfer to a university, over 65 career and technical program options and an extensive array of online courses. Applications for general admissions are currently being accepted. Prospective students are encouraged to apply and explore enrollment steps at hindscc.edu/enroll.

Our Mission: Hinds Community College is committed to moving people and communities forward by helping develop their purpose, passion and profession.

Our Vision: Hinds Community College will be a catalyst to create a competitive economy and a compelling culture for Mississippi.

Our Values: Hinds Community College aspires to the following IDEALS: Integrity, Diversity, Excellence, Accountability, Leadership, Stewardship.

To learn more, visit www.hindscc.edu or call 1.800.HindsCC.