March 26, 2018

Hinds CC Rankin College Day draws hundreds to Muse Center

PEARL – Justin Sanders, of Florence High School, wants to turn his interest in creating things into a career when he leaves high school. “I’m thinking of doing graphic design…
BY: Danny Barrett Jr.

Against a backdrop of heavy machinery, fencing and freshly moved dirt, the Utica Campus officially broke ground on a new coed residence hall behind the Cooper Fine Arts Building on May 3.

The new residence hall, expected to be complete in December 2024, will have 183 beds on three floors, a laundry room, kitchen on the first floor, study rooms, computer lab, a mini-mart plus an apartment for a residence hall director.

“We are investing in our future, we are investing in our community and we are investing in our students,” said Sherry Bellmon, Vice President of Instruction, Career & Technical Education. Her office has been on the Utica Campus, an HBCU (Historically Black College and University), since 2019.

Hinds is using $28 million in federal Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds made available during the COVID-19 pandemic. In June, the U.S. Department of Education allowed colleges to make requests for use of remaining HERF funds. The college submitted a request and received approval to use the funds for the residence hall construction.

Bellmon said when Dr. Stephen Vacik became president in July 2020 he asked her what her top priority was for the campus. “He asked me, ‘What can I do for you?’ I told him I wanted a new residence hall for our students,” she said.

Dr. Vacik said he knew such a project would take considerable funds. “I made a promise to get this done when I first came to Hinds, and today I have made good on that promise. I am very grateful that we were able to find the resources needed for this project,” he said. “It’s been a long time coming.”

In the meantime, three existing residence halls on the opposite side of the campus are receiving much needed renovations including new HVAC and painting.

“This will be an exciting campus expansion,” said sophomore Lauren Gatlin. “I’m happy to see that we are moving forward and advancing resources on our campus. I hate I won’t be able to experience living in a new residence hall. This hall will be an essential tool for recruitment and increasing enrollment.”

Hinds recruiter and HBCU Liaison Donny Epting said the new building will be an asset to him as a recruiter.

“As an institution, it is our mission to provide students the best place possible to achieve their dreams. This new space will add to the many attributes that Hinds already maintains, which includes our costfriendly tuition, small class sizes and a variety of resources to help our students succeed,” he said.

Quoting Kevin Costner from the baseball movie “Field of Dreams,” he added: “Build it and they will come.”

PEARL – Justin Sanders, of Florence High School, wants to turn his interest in creating things into a career when he leaves high school.

Justin Sanders, left, of Florence High School, Andrew Shaw and Mick Kuhn, both of Brandon High School, look on as Andrea Blair, a chemistry instructor at Hinds Community College Rankin Campus, conducts an experiment at Rankin College Day March 23 at the Muse Center. (Hinds Community College/April Garon)

“I’m thinking of doing graphic design or possibly even architecture,” Sanders said. “I have some family in architecture.”

Julie Harrison, of Pearl High School, already wants to help mold young lives or aid them back to health.

“It’s either nursing or early childhood education for me,” Harrison said. “It’s all about helping people.”

They were among about 250 high school juniors, seniors and others who attended Rankin College Day on Feb. 24 at the Muse Center on the Rankin Campus, which featured exhibits for all academic and career-tech programs, activities and organizations Hinds has to offer.

Carol McLaurin, dean of Student Services at Hinds Community College Rankin Campus, explains programs at the campus to Julie Harrison, of Pearl High School, at Rankin College Day March 23 at the Muse Center. (Hinds Community College/April Garon)

For those still studying for their high school diploma, it’s a time to find out how Hinds’ programs of study can build a successful career.

“I’ve wanted to do television production since I was a kid,” said Myrandis McGrone, of Northwest Rankin High School.

Prospective students interacted with faculty and Hinds students about admissions, scholarships, majors, student life and more.

“We look forward to many of the students from Rankin County and the surrounding area enrolling at the Rankin Campus and taking advantage of what we have to offer.” said Dr. Norman Session, vice president of the Rankin Campus and the Jackson Campus-Academic/Technical Center.

Myrandis McGrone, foreground, of Northwest Rankin High School, looks at what’s being created in the Radio, Television Production and Broadcasting Program with instructor Randy Kwan during Rankin College Day at Hinds Community College Rankin Campus March 23. (Hinds Community College/April Garon)

Dr. Carl DeWitt, left, and Amanda Blair perform an experiment for prospective students at Rankin College Day March 23 at the Muse Center. (Hinds Community College/April Garon)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Norman Session, vice president for the Rankin Campus, speaks with Charlie Parker, center-left, of East Rankin Academy, his mother, Melissa Parker and Maddie Morgan at Rankin College Day March 23 at the Muse Center (Hinds Community College/April Garon)