November 19, 2021

Hinds CC Rankin College Day draws hundreds to Muse Center

"For those still searching for a career path after high school, it’s a time to find out how Hinds can help shape their decision."
BY: Danny Barrett Jr.
Photography by Danny Barrett Jr.

Ameriah Fleming, of Brandon High School, enjoys science and the human body in general and wants to turn it into a career once she is out of high school.

Kevin Brown, a student at McLaurin Attendance Center, talks with Glory Bandela, anatomy and physiology instructor, along with Brandon High School students Ameriah Fleming and Alaina Mitchell.

“I especially like studying anatomy,” Fleming said, checking out a cross-section of a human kidney and a model of a human skeleton at Rankin College Day on Nov. 12.

The same goes for her Brandon High classmate Alaina Mitchell.

“My mother is a CNA, so it’s already in the family,” Mitchell said.

Glory Bandela, anatomy and physiology instructor at the Rankin Campus, explains a model of a human kidney to students visiting Rankin College Day on Nov. 12. At right is Alaina Mitchell, a student at Brandon High School.

They were among about 600 high school juniors, seniors and others who attended the come-and-go event 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. Eight local schools brought students to the event, while students from a few other schools came on their own.

For those still searching for a career path after high school, it’s a time to find out how Hinds can help shape their decision.

“I don’t have anything planned right now, so I’m just checking out everything,” said Peyton Holmes, of Discovery Christian School, in Florence.

Peyton Holmes, of Discovery Christian School, checks out video gaming stations at the Information Technology table.

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

Devin Lucas, center, and Migdaly Sontay, both Morton High School students, chat with Shaunda Freeman, associate degree nursing instructor, during Rankin College Day.

“We were happy to bring this event back after having to cancel it last fall,” said Kathryn Cole, dean of Enrollment Services at Hinds. “We look forward to it every year. It’s a lot of fun to see hundreds of students talking with our faculty and staff and exploring all that our Rankin Campus has to offer.”

Tray Holman and Creighton Patrick, both Pisgah High School students, chat with Dr. Carl Dewitt, chemistry instructor, during Rankin College Day.

Nearly every program at the event featured some form of interactive engagement to show visiting students, plus free takeaways such as pens and keychains. At the Phi Theta Kappa table, faculty advisor Joy Rhoads offered extra goodies to those who answered a geography question correct. Pisgah High School students Madison Goss and Grace Gardner answered correctly.

Madison Goss, center, and Grace Gardner, both Pisgah High School students, answer trivia questions from Joy Rhoads, PTK faculty advisor, during Rankin College Day.