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Legislature honors 2016 All-Mississippi Academic Team
Holmes Community College students Taylor Adcock of Sallis, Kristin Alexander of Vaughan, Mallory Corley of Pelahatchie, Amina Jatoi of Ridgeland, Etta Jennings of Grenada, and Abby Vance of Grenada were honored at the All-Mississippi Community College Academic Team Recognition Luncheon on March 22.
Held at the Jackson Convention Center, the luncheon recognized those students named to both the All-Mississippi First Team and Second Team. Adcock was named First Team, meaning she received a $1,000 scholarship provided by the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges. The other five honorees were all named Second Team. The program was established by the Mississippi Association for Community and Junior Colleges, the Mississippi Community College Board, and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Nominations are based on outstanding academic performance and service to the college and community.
Adcock, a student on the Goodman Campus, is a graduate of Central Holmes Christian School. She is an Ambassador and a member of Holmes Plus and the Baptist Student Union. She is also the executive officer of college projects for the Kappa Alpha Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa and was the recipient of the Order of the Golden Key at the Mississippi-Louisiana Regional Convention. She has been a President's List scholar (with a 4.0 GPA) during her two years as a Holmes student, and received the ACT Scholarship both years, as well. Adcock worked at Longhorn's Restaurant, as a pharmacy technician at Howell & Heggie Drugstore, and as a work-study student for the Chemistry Department. She has also served as a health fair volunteer for the past two years. She was also honored as the 2015-2016 HEADWAE student recipient, and following graduation from Holmes, plans to attend The University of Mississippi and eventually earn a Doctorate of Pharmacy.
Alexander, a student on the Goodman Campus, is a social work/sociology major with a 4.0 GPA. She is vice president of the Kappa Alpha Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa and a member of Mosaic. Off campus, Alexander enjoys painting, gardening, and cooking. She has two children, Holden and Aimee Katherine, and is a member of Ellison United Methodist Church. She is also a Methodist Youth Fellowship leader, and a member of the Pastor Parish Relations Committee at her church. Upon graduating from Holmes, Alexander plans to earn a master's in counseling from Delta State University and work to develop new therapies for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). She says that she is humbled and excited to have been chosen for this honor.
Corley, a student on the Ridgeland Campus, is president of the Alpha Lambda Sigma Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa. She is also the current Miss Holmes for the Ridgeland Campus, an Ambassador, and was Student Body Maid for Homecoming 2015. She plans to receive a degree in marketing in May 2016 and attend the University of Mississippi in the fall, majoring in Integrated Marketing Communications. After completing her bachelor's, Corley plans to pursue a master's degree and find a job with a large corporation in a big city. She also dreams of one day opening an orphanage for girls who have fallen victim to sex trafficking. Corley volunteers with Hope Hollow, Horses for Handicap and RideAbility. She also currently owns her own business with Arbonne International, a health and wellness company. Corley babysits regularly and helps with the work on her family's farm, feeding and caring for animals. She is also a competitive barrel racer and has won a Champion Buckle in Girls' Bullriding.
Jatoi, a student on the Ridgeland Campus, is originally from Pakistan. In 2001, she moved to Canada and stayed until 2014, obtaining a paralegal diploma from Seneca College there. She is enrolled in the Management Program at Holmes, planning to receive an A.A. degree in management in May of 2016. Jatoi's passion for meeting new people and helping others led her to choose a career that provides her with such opportunities. She hopes to earn a master's in Human Resources and become an outstanding and ethical HR director in a respected and well-known corporate firm. Jatoi loves to travel and speaks four language. In her spare time, she volunteers at the Magnolia Islamic Center where she performs various tasks including working with children and assisting with Mississippi Blood Services mobile blood drives.
Jennings, a student on the Grenada Campus, is an elementary education major with a 4.0 GPA who serves as president of the Alpha Mu Beta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa. She was recently recognized with the Phi Theta Kappa Order of the Golden Key, she has been on the President's List every semester since 2014, is a Dean's ACT Scholarship recipient, and a member of the Hall of Fame. Jennings is also a member of the Baptist Student Union. Her hobbies include fishing, hunting, gardening, volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club, volunteering at the Soup Kitchen, singing in the First Baptist Church Choir, and leading a girls' accountability group at church. Upon graduation, she plans to attend Delta State University where she will eventually pursue a master's and become a teacher. As a teacher, she wants to inspire, encourage and give every child the best opportunity for a successful life.
Vance, a student on the Grenada Campus, is an elementary education major. She loves being with children, and showing them the love of Jesus. Vance also loves playing sports and hanging out with her parents; she says she has been self-diagnosed with Only Child Syndrome. Vance was named Student Body Maid for the Grenada Campus during Homecoming 2015, and she recently transferred to Delta State University.
The All-Mississippi recipients and their families attended the All-Mississippi Academic Team Recognition Luncheon where they were individually recognized for their academic accomplishments. The luncheon began with a welcome and invocation by President of Coahoma Community College Dr. Valmadge Towner, followed by a welcome on behalf of the Mississippi legislators and introduction of the governor by Master of Ceremonies Sen. Terry Burton. Gov. Phil Bryant gave congratulatory remarks before Sen. Burton returned to the stage to recognize corporate and university sponsors.
President and CEO of Phi Theta Kappa Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner made remarks on behalf of the honor society and Executive Director of the Mississippi Community College Board Dr. Andrea Mayfield made remarks on behalf of Mississippi Community College Board. Regional Coordinator for the Mississippi-Louisiana Region of Phi Theta Kappa Dr. Ryan Ruckel recognized the All-Mississippi Second Team recipients on stage, and Dr. Mayfield recognized the First Team recipients. After the New Century Scholar recipient was announced, All-Mississippi Steering Committee President Dr. Gary Spears adjourned the ceremony.
For more information about Phi Theta Kappa, visit https://www.ptk.org/.
IN THE PHOTO: Pictured (front row, left to right) is Abby Vance, Grenada Campus, Phi Theta Kappa All-Mississippi Academic Team, Second Team; Mallory Corley, Ridgeland, All-Mississippi Team, Second Team, Amina Jatoi, Ridgeland, All-Mississippi Team, Second Team; Etta Jennings, Grenada; (second row, left to right) Blair Booker, Ridgeland head librarian/Phi Theta Kappa advisor; Amber Harrison, Grenada English instructor/advisor; Cynthia Abel, administrative assistant to the Grenada Campus academic dean/advisor; Taylor Adcock, All-Mississippi Team, First Team, Ridgeland; Kristin Alexander, All-Mississippi Team, Second Team, Goodman; President of Holmes Dr. Jim Haffey; Chanda Sykes, Grenada Spanish instructor/advisor, and Will Alexander, Goodman engineering technology instructor/advisor.
