PRCC awards medallions to Honors Institute graduates

Graduates of the Dr. William Lewis Honors Institute at Pearl River Community College received medallions and congratulations Monday, April 30, in a ceremony at the Brownstone Center for the Arts. They will wear the medallions when they are the first students to receive diplomas at graduation on May 11.

To become Honors Institute graduates, they must complete a minimum of 21 hours of honors courses while maintaining a 3.4 grade point average.

In addition to hundreds of hours of community service, the students are members and leaders of campus organizations and honor societies and have received more than $500,000 in scholarships, she said.

Graduates of the Dr. William Lewis Honors Institute at Pearl River Community College are, first row from left, Alejandra Alcantara of Carriere, Brandon Ashe of Picayune, Taylor Barefoot of Brooklyn, Rebecca Barrett of Poplarville, Taylor Bolton of Leakesville, Lorenzo Catlett of Hattiesburg, Allie Cooper of Picayune, Tyler Fiveash of Oak Grove, McKinsy Harris of Poplarville, Cody Hudson of Oak Grove, Jonathan Johnson of Hattiesburg; second row, Gage Kennedy of Kiln, Jacob Kutch of Picayune, Calynn Ladner of Pass Christian, Hannah Ladner of Kiln, Stanton Ladner of Necaise, Clay Lee of Carnes, Dustin Loftin of Hattiesburg, Parker Mathis of Oak Grove, Torian Miller of Sumrall, Susan Morgan of Petal, Jacob Namias of Picayune; Dylan Nguyen of Oak Grove, Melissa Novak of Hattiesburg, Said Otwane of Petal, Jennifer Pacheco of Wiggins, Caitlyn Penton of Leakesville, Danielle Smith of Oak Grove, Dalton Spiers of Poplarville, Vera Thacker of Oak Grove, Mekayla Williams of Leaksville and Nathan Young of Sumrall. Not pictured is Chase Crosby of Saucier.

PRCC Public Reltions photo

“Because of Honors, I believe in myself more and hold myself to higher standards,” said Rebecca Barrett of Poplarville, who attends the Forrest County Center. She plans to major in accounting at Millsaps College.

The Honors Institute brought out qualities some of the students didn’t know they have, said Dalton Spiers, also of Poplarville.

“A lot of times we don’t recognize our capabilities unless someone is there to push us across the finish line,” he said. A full-time employee of the PRCC admissions department, he will continue his education at the University of Southern Mississippi College of Business.

In addition to Barrett and Spiers, other local graduates are; Brandon Ashe, Allie Cooper, Jacob Kutch and Jacob Namias, all of Picayune; Gage Kennedy and Hannah Ladner, both of Kiln; and McKinsy Harris of Poplarville.

PRCC President Dr. Adam Breerwood presented the graduates with the medallions.

“You have proven that you are capable of overcoming challenges that may come in front of you,” he told them. “You have something special, a different level of commitment. Your future is bright, but always remember that your foundation is here at The River.”

In the photo, Dr. Adam Breerwood, PRCC president, congratulates Hannah Ladner of Kiln after presenting her with an Honors Institute medallion. With her on stage are Jacob Kutch of Picayune and Calynn Ladner of Pass Christian. PRCC Public Relations photo