POPLARVILLE - Approximately100 Mississippi soldiers spendingthe holidays in Iraq soon will get ataste of home.

Business and accounting studentsat Pearl River Community Collegepacked individual gift boxes for the96 soldiers in the Mississippi ArmyNational Guard’s 228th SapperCompany, a part of the 1203rdEngineering Battalion.

The company, headquartered inHouston, Miss, deployed to Iraq inAugust.

The project was spearheaded bybusiness instructors Jennifer Resterand Regina Davenport and account-ing instructor Lisa Bernard.Rester’s boyfriend, Sgt. MarkMcAvoy of Pass Christian, serves inthe 228th.

“They’re clearing roadways, tak-ing bombs out of roads,” she said.

Students and faculty collected avariety of snacks, toiletries, books,DVDs, hand and foot warmers fromPoplarville and Picayune merchantsfor each soldier. They also accepteddonations for postage.

“A lot of the businesses have beenreally generous,” said student LisaLittle of Plainview, La.

The boxes included Christmas

cards made by PoplarvilleElementary School first-graders anda letter from the PRCC instructors.

“Each year, our students take on aspecial project during the holidayseason,” the letter reads. “This yearwe chose to honor those who arefighting for our country.”

The project touched close tohome for some students, includingErica Barry of Poplarville. Hercousin has been deployed overseasseveral times, she said.

Barry participated “to be nice andit’s the Christmas spirit,” she said.

The military service of her fatherand father-in-law motivated Little,she said.

The gifts provided a way for non-military families to support thetroops, Bernard said.

“I don’t have anyone in the mili-tary, but I feel that it’s important forthe troops to know we wish theywere here for Christmas and it’s im-portant for them to know they’re re-membered,” she said.

Several other PRCC organiza-tions also reached out to others dur-ing the holiday season:

■ Phi Theta Kappa and theBaptist Student Union collectedtoys for the BSU’s holiday mission

trip to the Mississippi Delta.■ The Student Government

Assn. collected blankets and coatsto be distributed to those in need.

■ The dental assisting studentsat the Forrest County Center adopt-ed two children from the Salvation

Army Angel Tree.■ Office systems technology stu-

dents at the Forrest County Centercollected can tabs for RonaldMcDonald House in Jackson. Eachpound of tabs provides a free night’sstay at the house to a family.

Ray Cody named new aviationtech instructor at PRCC

POPLARVILLE - An experienced teacher and flying enthusi-ast is the new aviation maintenance technology instructor forPearl River Community College.

Ray Cody comes to the PRCC programwith a background that includes work inthe private sector and 10 years of teachingaviation maintenance technology at HindsCommunity College.

“There are some times in one’s life whenyou just need a change,” he said about themove to PRCC. “The people here are justwonderful.”

Cody holds a bachelor’s degree fromDelta State University and a variety of avi-ation certifications and ratings, includingthe flight instructor certificate. He owns afour-seat Cessna 172 single-engine plane.

“I do a little bit of flight instruction, but the flying is reallymore of a hobby,” he said.

The four-semester aviation maintenance technology programallows students to meet the Federal Aviation Administration re-quirements for certification to maintain civilian aircraft.Students can choose to earn a certificate or the associate in ap-plied science degree from PRCC.

The program is taught at Stennis International Airport inKiln.

Cody

Dorms close at 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14, for Christmas holidays

All Pearl River Community College dormitories will close at 4p.m. Friday, Dec. 14, for the 2007 Christmas holidays. If youplan to return in January for the 2008 spring semester, clean upyour room, empty trash, close windows, turn off lights and allother electrical appliances, and lock doors.

If you do not plan to live in the dorm for the spring semester,you must move out, clean up your room, turn in your key, andbring a check-out slip to Dr. Adam Breerwood, dean of studentaffairs. For information, contact Breerwood’s office at 403-1132.

Registration dates are setfor Spring 2008 semester

POPLARVILLE - Registration for new students attendingPRCC during the 2008 spring semester will be held Jan. 7-8 onthe Poplarville campus. It will begin at 9 a.m. on both days.

Hancock County registration is 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. onWednesday, Jan. 2.

Students who will attend the Forrest County Center inHattiesburg will register from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Thursdayand Friday, Jan. 3-4 in the multi-purpose building.

All college offices will reopen at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 2.Spring semester day and night classes will begin Jan. 9. On-lineclasses begin Monday, Jan. 14. Regular classes end May 12.Graduation day is May 16.

For information or a complete schedule of classes, check outthe PRCC website at www.prcc.edu or call 601-403-1214.

PRCC hosting state board;Business After Hours Jan. 17

Pearl River Community College will host the January meetingof the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges in con-junction with PRCC hosting the January 2008 AreaDevelopment Partnership’s Business After Hours.

Business After Hours will be held from 5:30 p.m. until 7 p.m.Thursday, Jan. 17, at the Lowery Woodall Advanced TechnologyCenter in Hattiesburg. Some 2,300 members of the ADP will bemailed invitations for the event, which will feature tours of thefacility as well as plenty of food.

State board members will arrive in Hattiesburg on Jan. 17 andhold their meeting on Friday morning, Jan. 18 on the Poplarvillecampus.

Women’s Health Symposiumfeatures speakers, screenings

Motivational speaker Dr. Sally P. Karioth will be the featuredspeaker when Pearl River Community College hosts the secondannual Women’s Health Symposium on Jan. 26.

Karioth, a nurse, counselor and professor at Florida StateUniversity, travels more than 50,000 miles per year deliveringher message and slogan, “Life is not a dress rehearsal.”

The 2008 Women’’s Health Symposium will again feature a va-riety of medical screenings during the health fair and five con-current sessions.

Speakers and topics for the concurrent sessions are Dr.Annette Low on diabetes, Janie Walters on “Humor for Life,”Judge Deborah Gambrell on legal issues for women, Robert St.John on Southern cooking and Eileene McRae on stress.Participants can attend two sessions.

Check-in will begin at 7:30 a.m. Jan. 26. The health fair will beheld first, followed by two concurrent sessions. Karioth willspeak during the luncheon.

Registration fee is $20 and must be received by Jan. 18.

Many projects in works at PRCCDECEMBER 2007POPLARVILLE, MS 39470101 U.S.HIGHWAY 11 NORTHPEARL RIVER COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Merry Christmas from PRCC

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS: Some PRCC stu-dents gathered recently at Turtle Creek Mall for this greeting cardpicture. Those in the picture include Frank Newsome of Petal (foot-ball), Jonathan Trahan of Carriere (soccer), Limon Stepney ofColumbia (band), Kara Strebeck of Poplarville (tennis), Kayla

Williamson of Sumrall (softball), Kelly Boler of Picayune (RiverNavigator), Rachel Seltzer of Caesar (String of Pearls), and stu-dents Ladorian Anderson of Purvis, Cory Ladner of Bay St. Louisand Brittany Conerly of Foxworth.PRCC Public Relations photo

Building projects on Pearl River CommunityCollege’s main campus in Poplarville will be on-going into the new year as the school continuesits recovery from Hurricane Katrina.

Construction is underway on a new $1.3 mil-lion transportation building located behind thevisitors’ side of Dobie Holden Stadium. Mac’sConstruction of Hattiesburg is handling thatproject.

The project includes a new warehouse, ship-ping department and motor pool for trans-portation. Completion date is sometime nextAugust.

The old transportation building, located inthe center of campus, was destroyed byKatrina. According to Clint Tapper, director ofthe physical plant, that area will be convertedinto a new lighted parking lot, adding some 100new parking spaces.

Tapper says the new career-technical build-ing on the north end of the campus, a $3 millionproject, is two months behind its original com-pletion date. “Progress has been moving goodright now,” he said. “They are finishing up theoutside and working on the inside now. We an-ticipate moving into that facility sometime inMarch.”

General contractor on the 13,800-square-footproject is Jay Van Inc. of Hattiesburg.

Once the programs in the old vocationalbuilding move into the new career-technicalbuilding, the maintenance department willmove from its present position into the voca-

tional building. Future plans call for demolish-ing the maintenance building to make room forthe new coliseum and field house just south ofDobie Holden Stadium.

Meanwhile, work is expected to begin thismonth on demolishing Bilbo Hall, next to themaintenance building. Future plans call forbuilding a new dormitory in thatspot.

A final walk-through on theCentennial Courtyard will take placethis month. Landscaping work hasbeen completed. All that’s left is thecleanup.

Creation of the $875,000 pedestri-an plaza began in May, 2007. Thecourtyard features a clock tower, plen-ty of lighting and trees as part of thelandscape. Tim Maples Constructionof Hattiesburg was the general con-tractor.

In conjunction with the courtyard area, thecolumns on the front of Crosby Hall have beenreplaced and painted by the PRCC maintenancestaff.

Just south of Crosby Hall, work has begun ona new 30-foot by 30-foot gazebo on the groundsof the alumni house. It will tie into the court-yard and face Crosby Hall.

“We plan to have some of our monthly cen-tennial functions, like story-telling historyevents, there next year,” said Ernie Lovell, ex-ecutive director of the Development

Foundation.“We will have some concert-type events with

small choir or instrumental groups and maybesome classroom outdoor programs. It will be al-most like a pavilion with four sidewalks ap-proaching it from four directions.”

Construction is also ongoing on a new facili-ty on the north side of the campusthat will house the Heavy EquipmentOperators and Commercial TruckDriving programs.

Work is also underway withMississippi Power Company to placeelectrical power underground in sev-eral high pedestrian areas of thePoplarville campus. According toPRCC President William Lewis, “Thegoal is that over the years we willplace much of our power under-ground to protect the campus utilities

from storms in the future.”On the athletic front, big plans are in the

works.Work has begun on the $1.2 million remodel-

ing and renovation of Dobie Holden Stadiumfor the first time since it was built in 1966.Features include:

■ All new metal seating, while adding 550seats to the home side. The entire center sec-tion will be chair backs for reserved seating.

■ A new air-conditioned pressbox that willinclude bathroom facilities.

See PROJECTS, page 6

Centennial Courtyard, Dobie Holden Stadium are few in works

Dr. Lewis

Tiffany Baker of Lumberton, left, and Lisa Little of Plainview, La., putsnacks into gift boxes for Mississippi Army National Guard soldiersserving in Iraq.

Students pack gift boxes for soldiers

PRCC to host USM Transfer DayPearl River Community College plans to host a University of

Southern Mississippi Transfer Day for all students interested intransferring to USM. Representatives from admissions, financialaid, housing and each college will be on campus in early Februaryto help students transition from PRCC to USM.

According to counselor Dannell Roberts, we have a tentativedate but the official time and date will be announced to all stu-dents via e-mail or by posting flyers on campus. For information,contact the counselors’ office at 403-1250.

N E W S & O P I N I O NDecember 2007 • Page 2 The DIXIE DRAWL

By Sherrie S. SibleyPRCC Nurse

It’s time for the holidays. Time for gath-ering with family and friends. Time forfeasting on homemade goodies. Time forwinter to make its arrival.

Although the holidays can represent amuch needed break from classes, indul-gence in home-cooked food, it can also beat times STRESS!!

Your expectations for the holiday breakmay differ significantly from your parents.When a student leaves for college, the fam-ily dynamics often change.

Adjusting to these changes can be chal-lenging for students and their family. Hereare some tips for coping when goinghome:

■ Let your family know about yourplans before you arrive home. Your par-ents will have an idea of what you wouldlike to do and are less likely to plan all ofyour time for you.

If you will be splitting time with variousfamily members, establish your plansahead of time and inform everyone.

Understand that you will haveto make compromises with yourtime.

■ Make certain your plans in-clude your family in some way.This will help them feel includedin your life and less likely thatthey will try and plan extra activi-ties for you in order to get achance to see you.

■ Discuss the differing expec-tations you may have with yourfamily regarding house rules.

You cannot expect your parentsto forget all the parental concerns theyhave been practicing for many years.

Although you can negotiate new rules(e.g., curfew), you cannot expect your par-ents to grant all of your requests.

■ Prepare your parents in advance ifyou will have less than stellar grades to re-

port. There is no use in prolonging the in-evitable. Be honest and take responsibilityfor your performance.

If you do not feel comfortablegoing home, find a friend whois willing to adopt you or makeyour own special plans.

Now that you’re in college,going home may provide newchallenges. You may also findthat you have developed newrespect for your family.

The holiday season can cer-tainly be full of cheer, partiesand general fun. But, rememberit can also be a time of loneli-

ness, sadness, anxiety and de-pression for some.

December is Seasonal AwarenessMonth.

The National Mental HealthAssociation defines Seasonal AffectiveDisorder (SAD), as a mood disorder andis a form of depression that occurs based

on seasonal changes in sunlight. It’s thought to happen as seasons

change, biological clocks undergo a shiftcaused partly by change in sunlight pat-terns. “Winter Blues” could be anotherterm used.

College students are especially vulnera-ble to depression because of all the physi-cal and mental stress they experience.According to the American PsychologicalAssociation, 53 percent of college studentshave experienced depression since enter-ing college.

Symptoms include increased sadness,feeling anxious, feeling sluggish, irritabili-ty, changes in appetite, and sleeping forlong periods of time.

Some ways to treat SAD are under-standing the problem and recognizing thatthis is a real problem even though the per-son affected looks normal.

Experts do recommend staying physi-cally active and gaining exposure to asmuch light as possible. If you know of

someone who you think may have SADsometimes just being there is so helpful.

Don’t feel like you have to do anythingspecific, your presence and company willbe experienced as soothing and support-ive.

Encourage the person with SAD.Remind the person this is a passing phase,that he or she has not always felt this wayand will feel better.

Whether you’re excited or dread theidea of going home or whether or not youlove the winter or feel down, take time foryourself, indulge in a little rest and relax-ation, and most importantly have fun.

It’s that time of the year and I wisheveryone a very happy, joyful and safe hol-iday. Merry Christmas and Happy NewYear.

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NURSES CORNER: Holiday suggestions for students

Sibley

By Dr. JIM MOORESpecial to the Dixie Drawl

Recently during supper, my 14-year-oldhigh school freshman declared, “graduationday is my personal Independence Day!”

While many parents would take this as anopportunity to lecture their child on the tra-vails of the “real world,” I simply chuckledand responded by saying, “well sweetheart,I’ll make sure to bring a large flag with theword ‘freedom’ burned into the fabric andwave it high when you walk across thestage.”

If most of us were honest, we’d admithaving similar delusions of grandeur whilegrowing up. “When I’m out of here, thenmy life will really take off!” “The world willbe my oyster once I leave this dungeon ofoppression!”

We can all likely relate to similar senti-ments. Most of us, again if we were honest,would also begrudgingly admit that this so-called facade of freedom lacked the splen-dor, pomp, and circumstance contained inour earlier fantasies.

The American College HealthAssociation recently published its findingsfrom the 2006 National College HealthAssessment. Sit back for a moment andconsider some of the issues many of yourpeers across America reported.

A staggering 43.8% of students said they“felt so depressed it was difficult to func-tion” during the past year.

Ninety-four percent of college studentsreported “feeling so overwhelmed I didn’tknow what to do” during the past year.Most disturbingly, 9.3% “seriously consid-ered suicide” during the past year.

A recent study of college freshman foundthat over 50% reported significant depres-sion during their first year of college.

Study after study continues to documenta marked increase in mental health prob-lems across America’s college campuses.Researchers, parents, teachers, and coun-

selors continue to ask, “what is going on?”While I could analyze and postulate over

potential causes for the rise in mentalhealth concerns in college-aged people forpages, I want to briefly ask you to considerjust a few potential issues you may experi-ence in your own life.

As my daughter’s declaration of inde-pendence demonstrates, teenagers long forfreedom and self-sufficiency.

Unfortunately, as I am sure many of youfirst-semester freshmen have discovered,this promise of liberation does not appearas wonderful on the other side of the rose-colored perspective you held inhigh school.

My first semester in collegewas a complete disaster. First ofall, I was not mature enough tohandle unrestricted coming andgoing. Without my mother to say,“no you cannot go to Bogalusawith the String of Pearls,” I wasfree to make every type of bad de-cision imaginable.

When the midterm of the se-mester rolled around, I was fac-ing a mountain of trouble withouteven the slightest of hiking gear.

Another problem I experienced was myown lack of personal discipline. As it turnedout, my mother was responsible for makingsure I arrived at school on time every dayfor 12 years of public schooling.

When this responsibility shifted to me,suffice it to say that Mrs. Whorton (my firstperiod English teacher) would have had aneasier time tallying the days I attended ver-sus the days I missed. By Nov. 3, I was kind-ly invited to leave Pearl River CommunityCollege by the Dean of Students at thetime, Dr. Miller Hamill.

Though I fooled myself into thinkingthings were great, I was truly miserable theentire time. All of my “buddies” thoughtthat my adventures with one girlfriend afteranother were tales of legend, but I cried like

a baby on the phone with my mother near-ly every night. You see, I could not handlethis level of change.

If my years as a psychologist taught meanything, it is the fact that the human or-ganism despises change. So one majorcause of depression in some individualscomes simply from the massive transitionfrom high school to college.

Dr. Linda Helimich of Carleton Collegerecently remarked that “everyone underes-timates the amount of change normally re-quired to leave home and adapt. It’s a hugestress.” Notice her use of the word “every-

one.” Indeed, every single one ofus from the students, to the par-ents, to the teachers, to the officepersonnel, to the administrators,every last one of us likely under-estimates the monumental taskrequired to shift from the senioryear of high school to the first se-mester of college.

Researchers at MississippiState University have found thatthe majority of college dropoutsoccur within the first four weeks

of the first semester.Recently a student visited with me in

order to have a withdrawal slip signed.When I asked him why he was leavingschool, he responded by saying, “Collegewas just a lot bigger change than I was ex-pecting.”

Though Hollywood loves to glamorizechange as a wonderful event, researchershave found that most people respond tochange in a similar way as to loss. Hereinlies the breeding ground for depression.Let’s spend a moment exploring some ofthe subtle changes that could affect yourmental health.

In high school, you were an athlete, or inthe band, or in some type of organizationthat kept you very physically active. Nowthat you’re in college, perhaps your activitylevel has significantly changed. Did you

know that a change in activity from “veryactive” to “sedentary” can almost immedi-ately decrease your basal metabolism by al-most 45%?

When you exercise or engage in evenmoderate physical activity, your body pro-duces stuff I like to call “happy chemicals:”endorphins, endogenous opiates, and othergood “stuff” that makes you feel great.

Your body is hardwired to regulate goodmental health, but it is directly tied to yourphysical health. So if you experience a sig-nificant change in physical activity fromhigh school to college, you can expect somelevel of decline in your mood and overallmental health.

Then there’s the change many experiencein eating habits. Perhaps growing up, yourparents were health conscious. My daugh-ter, during her manifesto of freedom, in-formed us that the first change under herown personal regime will be to eat whatev-er she wants whenever she desires.

Though our cafeteria offers a variety ofwell-balanced food options, perhaps youstake out the dessert bar or, worse yet, sim-ply sit in your room and live on a diet ofPop Rocks, Dorito chips, and Diet Coke.

We’ve all heard jokes about the“Freshman Fifteen” regarding weight gainin the first year of college, but there is truthin this claim. A significant change in youreating habits not only can have devastatingeffects on your metabolism, but can alsocause havoc in your brain chemistry.Weight gain, especially for female students,is also a major source of depression and lowself-image. You look into the mirror and seea different person staring back than the oneyou grew up knowing.

Finally let’s consider changes in sleepinghabits. In high school, I was in bed by 10p.m. and up at 6 a.m. every day. That con-stitutes eight hours of total sleep per day.During my first semester of college, I can-not remember a night in which I was asleepbefore 3 a.m.

Hear me students: sleep deprivation candestroy your physical and mental health. Arecent study found that over 80% of allAmericans, and over 90% of college stu-dents are significantly sleep deprived. Theloss of adequate sleep severely taxes yourbody’s physical and mental resources.

While we may all joke about not havingmom or dad to make sure we get our beau-ty sleep, this single change can open a canof worms that may very well undermineyour physical and mental well being.

So what is the answer to solve this birthof the blues found during the first semesterof college?

First and foremost, stay active. Given thewonderful facilities we have on campus,there is really no excuse for not exercising.Did you know that you can take a work-outclass and receive one hour of college creditand access to the PRCC Wellness Center?Better yet, you can work out on your sched-ule!

That’s right, you’ll have a level of freedomwhile also keeping your body fit and pro-ducing all the “happy chemicals” you needto maintain good mental health.

If you have never taken this class before,talk with an advisor or a counselor aboutsigning up for HPR 1591 Health Concepts.If you wish to tackle both the activity andweight issue together, you should considertaking HPR 1213 Personal and CommunityHealth.

This course combines the work-out as-pects of Health Concepts with a classroombased component that teaches you manyimportant aspects of good health. Finally,get some rest!

Trust me, you will not miss anything im-portant in the mighty metropolis foundhere in South Mississippi by going to bed ata decent hour.

And remember, the devil lives inBogalusa at night.

■ DDrr.. JJiimm MMoooorree iiss aann aaccaaddeemmiicc ccoouunn--sseelloorr aatt PPRRCCCC..

Moore

Freshmen discover liberation can have setbacks

By LORIE LIEBIGDixie Drawl Staff Writer

What is the true meaning ofChristmas? Every year around thistime, this question is one of themost debated by the general pub-lic.

Is it purely religious? Is it over-commercialized? What isit about this time of yearthat is so special to allwho celebrate it?

I remember when I wasyounger, when I wouldsneak down the stairsearly in the morning justto see the sight of theshiny, brightly wrappedpackages waiting for meto rip them open.

After I had successfullywoken my relatives, Iwould sit in front of the ornament-ed tree and go from package topackage happily, until I saw thearea beneath the tree become

empty.I would feel a little tinge of sad-

ness as I opened the last package,because I knew the moment I hadbeen waiting for all year longwould be over as soon as the paperwas thrown in the garbage.

Even so, when I was young Iknew that Christmaswas much more than justthe gifts under the tree.It meant makingChristmas cookies withmy mom and sister.

It meant laughingwhen my dad wouldgroan from irritationwhen the song “FelizNavidad” was playednon-stop on the radio.The happiest parts ofthe holidays were really

never during the shorttime opening presents, but the ex-periences leading up to it, frompicking our Christmas tree, to tak-ing pictures of our kittens in Santa

costumes.To me, the meaning of

Christmas is the appreciation of allof the things important to you. Itmeans enjoying watching a stringof lights glow, or an animatronicreindeer bob its head.

It also means loving the peoplearound you who you share the sea-son with. This time of year givesus an opportunity to show eachother how much we do appreciateeach other, whether it be throughgifts or a simple gesture or smile.

While we do tend to focus on thematerial things during the season,the pure idea of giving to eachother is what should truly be cele-brated.

I hope you take the time this hol-iday to enjoy yourself and the lifethat you are living, and show thepeople that mean the most to youhow much you care. HappyHolidays!

■ LLoorriiee LLiieebbiigg iiss aa ssoopphhoommoorreessttuuddeenntt ffrroomm CCaarrrriieerree..

Liebig

Christmas more than justsome gifts under a tree

‘Greater Tuna’ performance

The Department of Fine Arts and Communication presented the play “Greater Tuna” Nov. 27 and 28 inOlivia Bender Cafeteria. Set in Tuna, Texas, the third smallest town in the state, “Greater Tuna” featuredThurston Wheelis and Arles Struvie, radio personalities at local radio station WKKK. The two on-air per-sonalities, played by Isaac White (left, in top photo) and Ben Bradford, interview more than 20 residentsof Tuna with country music playing in the background. “Greater Tuna” was written by Jaston Williams,Joe Sears and Ed Howard.BY SHAKESHIA HARRIS

Dixie Drawl Staff Writer

Around the holidays I startthinking of how my holidays werewhen I was a kid.

Christmas seems extremely dif-ferent for me now than it waswhen I was a child. NowChristmas is just another day for

me; I havelost most ofall myChristmasspirit.

I rememberwaiting up atnight forSanta. I canalso remem-ber the daymy mothertold me thathe never ex-

isted. How her,other family members, and associ-

ates of hers bought those gifts. Iwas so hurt!

I started thinking to myself, nowonder why I could never catchthis guy under the tree.

I can’t even enjoy Christmas andThanksgiving dinner like I used to.

Grown-ups never tell you whenyou are little that all that eating isgoing to catch up with you whenyou get older.

They just automatically assumethat you have a higher metabolismthan they do and you will eventu-ally lose it over time.

I’ve written a poem dedicated tothose wonderful childhoodChristmases:

Where O where did myChristmases go

When the holidays were jolly And I looked forward to snow.

When my childhood adventure Was a plot to see,

If I could catch Santa’s Jolly self Under my mama’s tree.

O how I miss ChristmasesWhen I couldn’t sleep,Cause I was anxious to open

giftsAnd Christmas dinner I was

more than ready to eat.

Those Christmas dinnersUsed to be off the chain,Therefore I’ll never blame time

and ageFor the weight that I gained.

And after everything Is all said and doneMy childhood Christmas Was still the most fun.

Merry Christmas everybodyfrom me and my family to yours,and have a Happy New Year!

■ SShhaakkeesshhiiaa HHaarrrriiss iiss aa ssoopphhoo--mmoorree ssttuuddeenntt ffrroomm HHaattttiieessbbuurrgg..

Christmas just not the same

Harris

N E W SDecember 2007 • Page 3The DIXIE DRAWL

William Carey is a great place to continue your education.Merit, sports, church vocation and talent scholarships are available.

601-318-6103 www.wmcarey.edu 800-962-5991, ext. 103

William Carey UniversityHattiesburg Gulfport New Orleans

Seeking to transfer to somewhere different?

Below, Justin Brock, an automation and controls technology student from Tylertown, catches a Lowe’sdrink holder door prize during a Nov. 29 meeting of the Pearl River Community College Skills USAchapter. Above, Damon Kirkland of Carriere won a door prize of a Lowe’s t shirt during the meeting.Advisor Lori Barnett made the presentation while advisor Porter Soley looked on. Lowe’s also donatedcertificates that will allow six students to complete Occupational Safety and Health Administration train-ing on-line.

Skills USA chapter meeting

By DR. KYLE HILLSpecial to the Dixie Drawl

The 2007 legislative session in Mississippi was anexciting time for the Mississippi community collegesystem. We saw the passage of a funding bill that wasunprecedented in recent times.

Along with the increase in funding camethe passage of a Mid-Level funding conceptbill.

Senate Bill 2364 provides the legislaturewith a formula for calculating future fundingto ensure financial support for the commu-nity colleges proportionate with that of itsuniversity and K-12 counterparts.

As 2007 draws to a close, it is time tofocus on the 2008 legislative session, whichcurrently provides many unknowns.

With several new legislators and a newlieutenant governor, many committee assign-ments and committee chairs may be re-assigned forthe 2008 Legislative session. While these unknownsmay provide a current “wait-and-see” approach con-cerning the upcoming session, many in the communi-ty college system are confident about the supportcoming from the Legislature.

However, supporters of the community college sys-tem are encouraged to contact their legislators tothank them for the support last year and encouragethem to continue to support us this year. This contactis especially critical for those new legislators who maynot be familiar with the community college system.

The Mississippi Association of Community andJunior Colleges has proposed a funding package forthe 2008 legislative year that includes three mainfunding priorities. These include mid-level per stu-dent funding, capital improvements, and a DropoutRecovery Initiative.

In 2007, Senate Bill 2364 provided for per student

funding that is mid-way between the state per studentfunding for K-12 and regional public universities. The2008 mid-level funding request of $60 million is a con-tinuation of SB 2364 to move forward with the threeyear phase-in of mid-level funding.

The community colleges were awarded $35 millionin state bonds funds during the 2007Legislative session. The FY2009 request isfor an additional $128 million to allow com-munity colleges to continue to address the$400 million in new facility and capital im-provements identified last year.

The $16.5 million drop-out recovery ini-tiative will assist in lowering Mississippi’sdropout rate from 26 percent to the nation-al average of 20 percent. At the center ofthis request is the funding of GED andAdult Basic Education students at the same

FTE level as students enrolled in regular col-lege credit courses.

Increased attention in these areas will assist stu-dents with the transition from GED and ABE pro-grams and ready them for workforce training andhigher-paying jobs.

With last year’s success in funding, the Mississippicommunity colleges are looking forward to the up-coming Legislative session and a continued positiverelationship with the legislators and Mississippi’sleadership.

All members of the community college family needto take the new year as an opportunity to personallycontact their representative and senator to encouragethem to support the funding request as put forth bythe Mississippi Association of Community and JuniorColleges.

■ DDrr.. KKyyllee HHiillll iiss ddiirreeccttoorr ooff tthhee SSppiirriitt ooff tthhee RRiivveerrmmaarrcchhiinngg bbaanndd aanndd lleeggiissllaattiivvee lliiaaiissoonn ffoorr tthhee PPRRCCCCffaaccuullttyy..

MACJC’s funding packageincludes 3 main priorities

Hill

POPLARVILLE - Pearl River CommunityCollege will be offering two welding training pro-grams next month as part of its WorkforceInnovation in Regional Economic DevelopmentMomentum Grant.

Both programs, free of charge, will begin onMonday, Jan. 7.

One of those training programs will take placeat the Forrest County Center in Hattiesburg. Theclasses will be held from Monday throughThursday, from 4-8 p.m. James Patterson is the in-structor.

To enroll at the Forrest County Center, call 601-

554-4646.Another class will be taught at the Hancock

County Vo-Tech Center Monday throughThursday, from 4-8 p.m. Jerry Kramer is the in-structor.

To enroll at the Hancock County Vo-TechCenter, call Rohnda Duprey at 228-467-3568.

“These are employment programs to supportlocal industry in need of welders,” said ScottAlsobrooks, PRCC’s Director of WorkforceEducation.

“Potential employers will be involved with re-cruitment.”

PRCC offering two welding training programs

N E W SThe DIXIE DRAWLDecember 2007 • Page 4

Faculty profileNNAAMMEE: Jessica Olson FFAAMMIILLYY: Single; daughter of Billy and Pam

Olson of Wiggins; one brother, Doug, in collegeat USM

RREESSIIDDEENNCCEE: Hattiesburg

EEDDUUCCAATTIIOONNAALL BBAACCKKGGRROOUUNNDD:: StoneHigh School - 1999 Southern Miss - English, BA- 2003 Southern Miss - Sports Admin, MS - 2006

CCLLAASSSSEESS TTEEAACCHHIINNGG AATT PPRRCCCC: Develop-mental English - 3rd year/ Tennis Coach- 4th year

FFAAVVOORRIITTEE BBOOOOKK: Way too many to choose just one, but I really likescience fiction and paranormal mystery and action type books.

FFAAVVOORRIITTEE FFOOOODD: Watermelon

FFAAVVOORRIITTEE MMOOVVIIEE: Again, way too many, but I really like the epicstyle stories like “Gladiator”, “Braveheart”, or “300”

FFAAVVOORRIITTEE MMUUSSIICC:: A little bit of everything. With the holidays ap-proaching, I currently have the Trans Siberian Orchestra playing.

PPOOSSIITTIIVVEE AASSPPEECCTTSS OOFF TTEEAACCHHIINNGG AATT PPRRCCCC: The people here arewhat make it a wonderful place to work. Everyone is supportive andfriendly.

AADDVVIICCEE FFOORR SSTTUUDDEENNTTSS: The Chinese proverb from my daily quotecalendar, “Teachers open the door. You enter yourself.” Never settle forless than your best!

Olson

By MARTHA LOU SMITHSpecial to the Dixie Drawl

As a high school senior, I remember tak-ing a computer class. It didn’t matter thatthe computer was huge and that the writ-ing was green- a black screen with greenwriting.

At the time, we all thought it was prettycool because computers weren’t some-thing available in every classroom. I thinkyou may be able to view a relic similar tothat classroom computer located in thefoyer display case of the InformationTechnology building.

Come to think of it, I don’t even recall amouse with the computer. Today, I walkedthrough the Great Hall and counted eightlaptops open and alight with a multitudeof bright colors. Still no mouse- but allequipped with touchpads.

Plastic bottle caps that actually screwoff. CD’s that store large amounts of infor-mation.

Remote controls that work like magicwands. Answering machines that producevoices when there is no person there.Microwaves that immediately heat an on-the-go lunch.

Can you imagine living without any ofthese items? Today’s college freshman hasno concept of a world void of this type ofparaphernalia. Rapid changes in technolo-gy are an accepted part of a student’s life.

Indeed, I would even venture to say thatchanges in technology are expected bytoday’s college student. Buying a new cell

phone doesn’t simply mean buying a newphone because the old one is broken. Itmeans buying a new phone that soundsbetter, looks better, and has bet-ter features.

The ECAR Study ofUndergraduate Students andInformation Technology, 2007,a study conducted by the EDU-CAUSE Center for AppliedResearch (ECAR), states,“These students often take (in-formation technologies) forgranted and integrate themseamlessly into their dailylives.” The study goes on tostate that “these technologiesalso represent an opportunity for makingchanges in higher education instruction.”

When asked questions about usingContent Management System (CMS)products, 82% responded they had taken aclass that used a CMS. (I encourage you toaccess the study by visiting http://con-nect.educause.edu/ and doing a search forthe title of the study.)

The Office of Extended Education andInstructional Design is mindful of theever-changing technological world inwhich we live. Just as students expect tosee new technology in their personal lives,they also expect to see it in their educa-tional experiences.

For several years, Pearl RiverCommunity College students have beentaking online classes using the CMSBlackboard.

This is the second year students haveused Blackboard and MyMathLab in sev-eral mathematics classes. This year also

saw a number of instructorsacross disciplines use Blackboardas a supplemental tool. Thistrend is continuing.

More instructors are beingtrained to use Blackboard as aninstructional tool. More studentsare learning to access informa-tion online. With the assistanceof Blackboard, learning experi-ences can be enhanced to in-crease comprehension and reten-tion.Blackboard enables instructors

to post syllabi, notes, and handouts online.There is the potential that an instructorwould never have to run off another hand-out.

As students become familiar with access-ing Blackboard, they learn to visit the siteprior to class to locate any material whichthe instructor will reference during class.An instructor can maintain grades inBlackboard allowing a student to access thesite and quickly determine his or her gradeat any given time during the semester.

Using the online Discussion Board, on-going discussions can be conducted creat-ing opportunities for meaningful exchangebetween instructor and student andamong students. Tests and quizzes canalso be administered through Blackboard.

Some versions of these instruments areautomatically assessed and the grade is in-

cluded in the online grade book.Students are already accustomed to ac-

cessing information through technology.The ECAR study reveals that studentsspend on average 18 hours per week on-line with 82.5% of the respondents prefer-ring at least moderate use of technology incourses.

From a student’s perspective,Blackboard makes it possible for the stu-dent to review classroom notes that mayhave been missed and grades that havebeen assigned. He or she can easily con-tact the instructor via email or throughthe Discussion Board.

The instructor-guided conversationsthat occur among students promotethoughtful and insightful discussion.

Academic Suite Phase 1 schools acrossthe State were activated in August 2007.In January 2008, the Academic SuitePhase 2 community colleges inMississippi will go live with Blackboard.

Pearl River is a Phase 2 school, and atthat time, anyone using Blackboardthrough Pearl River will log ontohttp://pearlrivercc.blackboard.com.

Instructors and students will see bothonline and traditional courses with whichthey are associated within one log-in. Withthe activation of Phase 2 schools, all 15community colleges and the MississippiVirtual Community College will have ac-cess to the same version of Blackboard.

The Content System portion of theAcademic Suite will also be available andwill allow each instructor and student to

store documents that can be accessedfrom any computer.

The Outcomes portion of Blackboard isalso part of the state-wide Blackboardproject having its own schedule for imple-mentation. Pearl River will beginOutcomes in summer 2008.

This segment of Blackboard is designedto assist in the facilitation of the assess-ments and evaluations which are usedacross the College.

Instructors are encouraged to requesttraining for Blackboard. Fall training ses-sions have already been conducted on thePoplarville Campus and at the ForrestCounty Center.

A spring training calendar is available inthe office of Extended Education andInstructional Design.

As teaching and learning increasinglymove toward the use of technology both asa course development tool and as a teach-ing tool, it is pleasing to see the excite-ment that surrounds change. Changes willalso be occurring with student emails.

After Dec.14, each student needs to ac-cess Banner Web to see his or her newemail address. This email address is theofficial address that will be used to corre-spond with students.

Students are also encouraged to makesure that a current phone number is listedin Banner. (Banner Web can be accessedfrom the PRCC homepage.)

■ MMaarrtthhaa LLoouu SSmmiitthh iiss DDiirreeccttoorr ooffEExxtteennddeedd EEdduuccaattiioonn aanndd IInnssttrruuccttiioonnaallDDeessiiggnn..

Smith

Blackboard a valuable tool for faculty and students

Spirit of the River marches in Sumrall

Over the course of the next 12 monthsmany activities and events will be plannedby the Centennial Steering Committee ofthe college.

Preliminary work on our CentennialCelebration has already identified threemajor events to take place during the2008-09 school year accompanied by ac-tivities to take place during the monthsthat do not have amajor event sched-uled.

Kickoff for theCentennialCelebration will beheld on Monday,Sept. 8, 2008 inPoplarville and onthe main campus ofthe college. The days’events will imagethose activities that took place on thesame date in 1908.

It will be a celebration that includes pa-rades and dignitaries from throughout thestate of Mississippi and surroundingareas.

We anticipate thousands of alumni andcommunity supporters in attendance forthis kickoff. Memorial dedication cere-

monies will take place in our newly con-structed Centennial Courtyard on themain campus.

Our second major event will take placein October of 2008 and will be in conjunc-tion with the college’s Homecoming.

This event will showcase reuniongroups from all areas of the college. Afocus will be to highlight the lifestyles and

experiences fromeach decade as theywere lived out atPearl River.

Our third majorevent will be held inApril of 2009. Thiswill be the culmina-tion of all that wehave recognized overthe course of ouryear of celebration.

We plan to have major entertainment,food, fun, and fellowship like never before.

It will be a time that we honor our his-tory and also enter into our next centuryof service to the people of our state and re-gion.

A 15-member Centennial Steering Com-mittee was established in June of 2007 tobegin work on our year of celebration. As

you have seen presented, many plans havealready been formulated and work is un-derway.

Our steering committee is under theleadership of Mrs. Mary Lynn Smith andMr. Berlon Lee.

Beginning next September the spotlightwill be on Pearl River Community Collegethrough these many planned events andactivities. We need those who have been apart of our great heritage in education tohelp us present our story.

The Finance Committee of ourCentennial Celebration would ask you toconsider taking part in this presentationby serving as a volunteer or a financialsponsor of our “Century of Excellence”Celebration.

A sponsorship proposal is includedbelow. Please help as you can by investingin this program that thousands ofMississippians take part in.

Sponsorships include:

CCeenntteennnniiaall GGoolldd $$1100,,000000..0000■ Includes business or individual adver-

tisement in all college publications in-volved with Centennial promotions.

■ Includes sponsorship recognition atall three major events scheduled during

“Century of Excellence” celebration. ■ Includes sponsor recognition in all

media promotion of “Century OfExcellence” celebration.

■ Includes eight luncheon reservationsto the Kickoff Celebration of September 8,2008 at PRCC.

■ Includes eight luncheon reservationsto the Alumni Homecoming/Sports Hall ofFame Celebration in October, 2008.

■ Includes eight general admission tick-ets to Homecoming Football Game inOctober, 2008.

■ Includes eight tickets to musical ex-travaganza event scheduled for April,2009.

■ Includes eight Centennial CoffeeMugs

■ Includes two copies of the CentennialCommemorative Book

■ Includes two (2) copies of DVD re-count of “Century of Excellence”

CCeenntteennnniiaall MMaarroooonn $$55,,000000..0000 ■ Includes business or individual adver-

tisement in all college publications in-volved with Centennial promotions.

■ Includes sponsorship recognition atall three major events scheduled during“Century of Excellence” celebration.

■ Includes four luncheon reservationsto the Kickoff Celebration of Sept. 8, 2008at PRCC.

■ Includes four luncheon reservationsto the Alumni Homecoming Sports Hall ofFame Celebration in October, 2008.

■ Includes one copy of the CentennialCommemorative Book.

CCeenntteennnniiaall RRiivveerrssiiddee $$11,,000000..0000■ Includes business or individual adver-

tisement in all college publications in-volved with Centennial promotions.

■ Includes sponsorship recognition atall three major events scheduled during“Century of Excellence” celebration.

■ Includes two luncheon reservations tothe Kickoff Celebration of September 8,2008 at PRCC.

■ Includes one copy of the CentennialCommemorative Book.

CCeenntteennnniiaall PPaarrttnneerrss $$550000..0000 ■ Includes business or individual adver-

tisement in all college publications in-volved with Centennial promotions.

■ Includes sponsorship recognition atall three major events scheduled during“Century of Excellence” celebration.

■ Includes one copy of the CentennialCommemorative Book.

Faculty, staff, students: Be a part of the PRCC Centennial

The Spirit of the River marching band was featured in three Christmas parades last weekend. The band took part in the Poplarville paradeon Nov. 30, and the Sumrall and Bassfield parades on Dec. 1. In these photos, the band marches in the Sumrall parade. Members of thecolor guard (lower left) carried Christmas presents in the parades. PRCC Public Relations photos

N E W SThe DIXIE DRAWL December 2007 • Page 5

Faculty profileNNaammee: Frankie LeeFFAAMMIILLYY: Single

RREESSIIDDEENNCCEE: Hattiesburg

EEDDUUCCAATTIIOONNAALL BBAACCKKGGRROOUUNNDD: Grad-uated Hattiesburg High School; graduatedLincoln University of Missouri with B.S. inBusiness; Masters Degree in EducationalLeadership from William Carey University.

PPOOSSIITTIIOONN AATT PPRRCCCC:WIA/TAA Coordinator

FFAAVVOORRIITTEE BBOOOOKK: The Color Purple and anything by John Grisham

FFAAVVOORRIITTEE FFOOOODD: Liver and Onions

FFAAVVOORRIITTEE MMOOVVIIEE: Dreamgirls

FFAAVVOORRIITTEE MMUUSSIICC: R&B and Jazz

PPOOSSIITTIIVVEE AASSPPEECCTTSS OOFF WWOORRKKIINNGG AATT PPRRCCCC: The PRCC familyenvironment! Everyone is great to work with. The administrators careabout the students, the employees and the future of PRCC. My job allowsme the opportunity to work with and help students; which is very self-filling. I love it!

AADDVVIICCEE FFOORR SSTTUUDDEENNTTSS: Work hard, be all that you can be. If youbelieve it; you can achieve it. Education is a valuable tool that should notbe taken for granted. Use it to direct your path to a world or new and ex-citing beginnings.

Lee

The Delta Epsilon Chi chapter at Pearl River Community College raised $500 for the American CancerSociety by selling “Think Pink” t-shirts designed by chapter president Sonja Baker, third from right.Shown with her in the shirts are radiologic technology students at the Forrest County Center. They are,from left Codie Martin of Tylertown, Candice Williamson of Sumrall, Carrie Weeks of Mathiston, MirandaPorter of Bassfield and Joe Lee of Sumrall. PRCC Public Relations Photo

Funds for American Cancer Society

Faculty profileNNAAMMEE: Cynthia SchaferFFAAMMIILLYY: Married to Michael Schafer (5

years), one cat son, Toulouse 3, 2 cat daughters,Sadie, 15 and Picasso 7, and 2 dog daughters,Jasmine, 7 and Lacey 5

RREESSIIDDEENNCCEE: Hattiesburg

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND: OceanSprings High School, 1975; and University ofSouth Alabama, B.S., Graduated 1990.

PPOOSSIITTIIOONN AATT PPRRCCCC: Media Specialist, 7 years

FFAAVVOORRIITTEE BBOOOOKK: All Animals Great and Small

FFAAVVOORRIITTEE FFOOOODD: Lasagna

FFAAVVOORRIITTEE MMOOVVIIEE: Pollyanna

FFAAVVOORRIITTEE MMUUSSIICC: Caribbean

PPOOSSIITTIIVVEE AASSPPEECCTTSS OOFF WWOORRKKIINNGG AATT PPRRCCCC: I am always learningnew skills to share with faculty, staff and students. I love my job becauseevery day is a different challenge.

AADDVVIICCEE FFOORR SSTTUUDDEENNTTSS:: Think positive thoughts, hang around thewinners, treat others as you want to be treated and you will go a longway in life. Oh yea! Always throw some fun in this mixture. This is yourstory you are creating, make it count!!

Schafer

By BROOKE THOMASDixie Drawl Staff Writer

“Tomorrow my best friend leaves. Tomorrow my bestfriend graduates.”

This is from a blog posted by my sister on May 30this year. I didn’t find it until about three seconds beforebeginning this article, and I must say this re-ally got me thinking.

The first sentence is in reference to a cer-tain Justin Kellar who moved to Missouri forthe summer. The second sentence is in refer-ence to me, who obviously graduated this pastspring.

And it is the second sentence that got methinking.

I have been practically attached at the hipwith my 17-year-old sister since she was born.

We’ve gone everywhere and done every-thing together, and I have found I have had ahorrible withdrawal from her over the past fewmonths.

I moved out of my parents’ house on May 25 this year,and I didn’t realize that I would have such an impact onChelsea, who has been my best friend since Feb. 6,1990. And I can honestly say that I miss her. A lot.

I miss waking up to Chelsea banging on her drum set,or sitting in my room playing guitar or watching TV. Imiss all the FEMA trailer parties we had, and the infa-mous movie nights thrown together just hours before.

I miss dressing up like wierdos and going thrift storeshopping in Picayune. I miss sneaking out at night androlling houses of our best friends just because we can. Imiss dragging ourselves from marching band practice.

I miss free-styling like the white girls we are. I miss

playing hide-and-seek in Wal-Mart, dancing like nerds inthe parking lot, and “almost” stopping at the stop signs.

And as much fun as we have together and as manytimes we have acted silly for no good reason, I am stillso proud of her. She’s such an amazing person and sheinspires me every single day.

She’s a big reason I am majoring in whatmy major is, and an even bigger reason I’mgetting A’s. She’s the reason I wake up every-day, and one of the only reasons I travel toPicayune.

She’s inspired me to be such a better per-son than the person I used to be. She’s helpedme learn some of life’s greatest lessons, aswell as how to properly soap someone’s win-dow.

Since she is a senior this year, she will begraduating in the spring and moving toPRCC in the fall, and I am so excited. I knowwe won’t dorm together- one of her friends al-

ready made her promise- but I truly look forward to herbeing here and attaching herself to my hip again. I knowthings will be just as they were all those years we weregrowing up together, and I can hardly wait.

Now, after writing all of that and re-reading it, I real-ize how mushy ths is and how fortunate I am to haveher in my life.

And I really hope all of you have someone, your ownpersonal Chelsea, that you share your life with, that in-spires you to be better, who lets you have good clean funand not worry about what people think. I have myChelsea, and I am so proud.

■ BBrrooookkee TThhoommaass iiss aa ffrreesshhmmaann ssttuuddeenntt ffrroommCCaarrrriieerree

Thomas

Relationship with her sisterhas been something special

Students and faculty on the Poplarville campus show off their Think Pink t-shirts. They are, from leftkneeling, Melanie Saucier of Columbia, instructor Carol Williams, standing instructor Susan Anderson,Ethan Frierson of Picayune, instructors JoAnn Eure and Teresa Alexander, staff member Joan Brownand instructor Jan Stevens.

Christmas Vespers concert

The Pearl RiverSingers and thePRCC BrassQuintet presentedthe annualChristmasVespers concertlast Tuesdayevening. Above,the choir per-formed before astanding-roomonly audience.Center photo,Justin Harding ofFoxworth andO’Bryant Jeffersonof Franklinton, La.join performersShana Harrison ofCarriere andHallie Raborn ofPurvis, belowphoto, as theyperformed a widevariety ofChristmas musicat the annualVespers concert.The brass quintetwas under the di-rection of MikeBass. The choirwas under the di-rection of LaDonaTyson. Specialguest Dr. MarkMalone, chairWinters School ofMusic at WilliamCarey University,was the reader.

Nine students from the BusinessMarketing and ManagementDepartment will be traveling to“The Big Apple” over theChristmas Holiday break.

Instructors Carol Williams andDelana Foster from the depart-ment will also be traveling with thegroup as well. The trip is designedto give the students a first handlook into the business world ofmarketing and retailing.

The group plans to visit the NBCStudios for a behind the sceneslook at the company’s marketingand advertising efforts. In addi-tion, the students and instructorswill be touring some of the city’sbiggest attractions such as TheEmpire State, Wall Street, Statueof Liberty, and Times Square.

One of the courses that studentsin the marketing program must en-roll in order to graduate is VisualMerchandising. Instructor DelanaFoster said, “New York City is anamazing place for Visual Merchan-dising throughout the year but re-tailers really “play up the win-dows” during the holiday season toincrease sales. The windows are anattraction themselves during theChristmas season.”

The students plan on visitingsome of the top retailers in theworld such as Saks Fifth Avenue,Lord and Taylor, Bergdorf andGoodman, and Barney’s New York.

■ The group is scheduled toleave from the New OrleansAirport on Sunday, Dec. 16 andwill return Thursday, Dec. 20.

The group will be staying in thetheater district of Manhattan atthe four star Belvedere Hotel. Thestudents and instructors are excit-ed about the trip but are not look-ing forward to the cold weatherthat the city has to offer. “The tripis a once in a life-time opportunityfor some of the students, somehave never even flown before soI’m sure that it will be the highlightof their year,” said Williams.

The two instructors believestrongly in a ‘hands-on” curricu-lum and the trip is another way toget the students involved and tosee what marketing has to offer.

The instructors hope to makethis a new tradition within the de-partment and one that can be con-tinued over the years. If you are in-terested in the Business Marketingprogram feel free to contact CarolWilliams at (601) 403-1117 orDelana Foster at (601) 403-1118.

Students ontheir way to New York

N E W SThe DIXIE DRAWLDecember 2007 • Page 6

From PPAAGGEE 11■ New entry area with ticket

booth and expanded restrooms, aswell as an area to sell school mem-orabilia.

■ New visitor dressing facilityon the northeast corner of the sta-dium.

■ A walk-through plaza going tothe stadium.

Completion date is in time forthe beginning of next football sea-son.

Work on restroom facilities at thetennis courts begins next month orso and work is nearly complete onthe new ticket booth and dressingfacilities for referees between thebaseball and softball fields.

At the Forrest County Center inHattiesburg, work begins inJanuary on a new parking area atthe north end of the Allied HealthCenter, and a new road that willallow for expansion of facilitiesinto the acreage on the back of thecampus.

With the assistance of theForrest County Board ofSupervisors, a new Career-Education building will be con-

structed on that site. Said Tapper, “Our heavy equip-

ment students will help us clearthat area once we get the timberremoved.”

In other related news:■ It was announced at the last

Board of Trustees meeting thecompletion of the boulevard thatwill run through the center of cam-pus. The boulevard will have a me-dian with appropriate landscapingand lighting.

The completion of the boulevardwill finalize the creation of a cen-tral thoroughfare through thePoplarville campus. This projectwill also include the improvementof the parking areas behind SealHall and next to the old Coliseum.

■ The Bureau of Buildings &Grounds is currently interviewingarchitectural firms to identify anarchitect for the addition toMoody Hall that will replace theauditorium that was lost in thestorm.

Those plans will include a newelevator. We hope to begin work onthis addition by early summer,2008.

PROJECTS

Building projects on the PRCC main campus

Holden Stadiumwork underwayWork has begun on the $1.2 mil-lion remodeling and renovation ofDobie Holden Stadium for thefirst time since it was built in1966. Features include:■ All new metal seating, whileadding 550 seats to the homeside. The entire center sectionwill be chair backs for reservedseating.■ A new air-conditioned pressboxthat will include bathroom facili-ties.

Public Relationsphotos by Ronn Hague

Work underwayon new bus barnConstruction is underway on anew $1.3 million transportationbuilding located behind the visi-tors’ side of Dobie HoldenStadium. Mac’s Construction ofHattiesburg is handling that proj-ect.

The project includes a newwarehouse, shipping departmentand motor pool for transporta-tion. Completion date is some-time next August.

A final walk-through on the Centennial Courtyard will take place thismonth. Landscaping work has been completed. All that’s left is thecleanup. Creation of the $875,000 pedestrian plaza began in May,

2006. The courtyard features a clock tower, plenty of lighting andtrees as part of the landscape. Also, the columns on the front ofCrosby Hall have been replaced and painted by the PRCC staff.

S P O R T SThe DIXIE DRAWL December 2007 • Page 7

Former Pearl River Community College footballstar Demetrius Byrd is having a dream season forLSU this fall.

Byrd, who played two seasons at PRCC, has 33 re-ceptions for 593 yards. He leads LSU receivers intouchdowns with seven - and his junior season is notthrough yet.

Following last Saturday’s 21-14 victory overTennessee in the Southeastern Conference champi-onship game, in which Byrd had a 27-yard touchdownpass from quarterback Ryan Perrilloux, LSU was se-lected to battle Ohio State Jan. 7 in New Orleans forthe BCS National Championship.

It’s the second time in three years that Byrd willplay for a national title. His sophomore season atPRCC, the Wildcats played for the championship inthe Pilgrim’s Pride Bowl in Mt. Pleasant, Texas. Onthat day, Blinn (Texas) College defeated PRCC 19-6.

Byrd went on to earn NJCAA All-American status.He was also voted Mr. PRCC by the student body hissophomore season.

After seeing limited playing time through his firstfour games at LSU, Byrd began wondering if he hadmade a mistake and not chosen Florida State, not toofar from where he went to high school in Miami.

“The reason I wasn’t playing early was because thecoaches thought I wasn’t ready,” said Byrd. “And totell you the truth, I wasn’t. I was still making a lot ofmistakes.”

Those days are over. Byrd has been among theTigers’ best receivers during the last half of the sea-son. His last-second, sliding catch in the back of theend zone to beat Auburn was only one of a number ofhighlight-reel touchdown catches he’s hauled in whileplaying a central role in helping LSU win the SECtitle.

He caught a fourth-down touchdown pass in a closevictory over Florida. He had a 61-yard score to helpLSU overcome a 10-point, second-half deficit toAlabama. He also had a pair of big touchdown catch-es in a 50-48 overtime loss to Arkansas.

When all is said and done, his reception total isthird on the LSU team, he has averaged 18 yards percatch and he had seven catches for 72 yards in the

SEC championship game.“At first, just like every other guy who comes in new

to a program, trying to learn the plays, it was difficultfor him,” LSU running back Jacob Hester recalled.“But he was such a playmaker it didn’t matter. It washard to keep him out of the game.”

When the season began, Byrd found himself behindEarly Doucet, LaFell, Jared Mitchell and TerranceTolliver. When Doucet was injured early in the season,Byrd stepped in.

“Practicing with (QB) Matt Flynn helped me,” saidByrd. “We got our timing down, he started knowingwhere I’m going to be at, knowing he could trust me.Now it’s like, when he wants a big third-down play,he’ll look for me.”

Byrd played only one year at Miami Central HighSchool. Bad grades kept him off the field most of thetime, and Byrd laments now that he didn’t take schoolmore seriously at a younger age.

He learned his lesson when none of the major col-lege programs he hoped to play for offered him ascholarship. He was devastated.

Byrd did not want to attend junior college, but feltbetter about that option after meeting CincinnatiBengals receiver Chad Johnson at church one day.Johnson, who also went to junior college, told Byrdthat might be his best chance.

That’s when PRCC coach Tim Hatten entered thepicture. Byrd enrolled at PRCC and played two sea-sons here. The Wildcats were 19-3 in those two sea-sons. His sophomore season, he caught 45 passes for730 yards and five touchdowns.

Because he needed to take summer classes beforegoing to LSU, Byrd missed summer workouts and did-n’t arrive on campus until the day before players weredue to report to fall practice.

With his 4.3 speed at 40 yards and his sure hands inthe clutch, he’s exceeded expectations.

“He’s been really a good surprise,” said Hester.“When Early went down, he’s what really helped thisreceiving corps and led this receiving corps. If we did-n’t have him, who knows where our season would beright now.”

■ TThhee AAssssoocciiaatteedd PPrreessss ccoonnttrriibbuutteedd ttoo tthhiiss aarrttiiccllee..

Demetrius Byrd makingname for himself at LSU

PRCC freshman forward Donta Smith (40) looks for an opening toward the basket earlier this season. PRCC sophomore Laterrica Booth (24) eyes an open teammate as she prepares to make a pass.

POPLARVILLE - Itawambaswept Pearl River in MACJCwomen’s and men’s non-divisionbasketball action last Monday withthe Lady Wildcats falling 68-47and the Wildcats losing 76-65.

The Lady Wildcats dropped to 7-2 overall, while the Wildcats fell to5-4. Itawamba’s women improvedto 3-7, while its 13th-ranked menremain unbeaten at 10-0.

(PRCC wrapped up the pre-Christmas holiday portion of itsschedule when Delgado (La.) visit-ed Monday, Dec. 10.)

In women’s action, Pearl Rivernever led in the game, but man-aged to tie it up at 11-11 off a buck-et by Sherrion Thomas at the11:50 mark of the first half. ICC’sJessica Collins answered with abasket that kicked off a 21-13 runthat put the Lady Indians up 32-24at the intermission.

In the second half, Itawambaoutscored PRCC 36-23 to claim itssecond victory of the 2007-2008season. The Lady Wildcats defeat-ed the Lady Indians 78-68 Nov. 8in Fulton.

Olivia Magee paced PRCC with12 points and hauled in a game-high 13 rebounds, while Thomasadded 10 (five rebounds), BrittanyLewis and Nicole Lowe, six each;Stacia Eady four, Laterrica Booththree (five rebounds), and MalloryArcher, Juanita Easley, andShondrika Lee, two a piece.

For Itawamba, SanqueetaMeardith led the way with a game-high 19 points (three treys), whileKeisha Shumpert added 11 (six re-

bounds), Jessica Collins 10 (fivesteals), Courtney Cannon nine,Destini Shannon six (seven re-bounds).

The Lady Wildcats hit 32.6 per-cent (15 of 46) from the field tothe Lady Indians’ 41.5 percent (22of 53) effort, while PRCC wasscoreless from three-point rangeon seven attempts to ICC’s three of20 (15 percent) showing. At thefoul line, Pearl River was 17 of 22(77.2 percent), while Itawambawas 21 of 30 (70 percent).

In men’s action, the Wildcats ledin the early going, but SantezJohnson hit a basket with 7:45 leftin the first half to snap a 15-15stalemate and kicked off a 22-4scoring run that pumped theIndians’ lead to 37-10 heading intothe final minute before the inter-mission.

ICC’s Anthony Brock was fouledat the buzzer and his two foulshots put the visitors up 41-25 atthe half.

The Indians built their lead to asmuch as 26 points midway into thesecond half when Sergio Kerusch’’sbucket made it 65-39, but TheRiver answered with 26-11 scoringsurge from there on out to cut thenationally-ranked visitors’ lead to11 at the end.

Donta Smith led Pearl Riverwith 13 points and grabbed agame-high 13 boards, whileLeBaron Weathers added 12 andnauled in six rebounds. JovanniSims scored nine, James Starksseven, Jamarcus Jackson andDarnelle Johnson (six rebounds),

six each; Chris Harris and ChazzHawkins, five each; and ArmondPorter two.

Brock paced Itawamba with agame-high 20 points (three treys,six assists, five rebounds), whileKerusch added 18 (four steals),Therion Jenkins 13, Andre Crudup11 (four steals), Kenny McKinneyfive, Santez Johnson four, JasonMarks three, and Pierre Hadleytwo.

The Wildcats hit 35.9 percent(23 of 64) from the field to theIndians’’ 48.3 percent (29 of 60) ef-fort, while PRCC was two of 21(9.5 percent) from three-pointrange to ICC’’s five of 15 (33.3 per-cent) showing. At the foul line,Pearl River was 17 of 23 (73.9 per-cent), while Itawamba was 13 of22 (59.1 percent).

BBaasskkeettbbaallll rreessuummeess oonn JJaann.. 33The Pearl River Community

College men’s and women’s basket-ball teams are off for the ChristmasHolidays now. The season will re-sume on Jan. 3 at home againstMississippi Delta.

Future games:Jan. 7 - at Copiah-LincolnJan. 10 - at Gulf CoastJan. 14 - host SouthwestJan. 17 - at HindsJan. 21 - at MeridianJan. 24 - at Jones JCJan. 28 - host East CentralJan. 31 - host Copiah-LincolnFeb. 4 - host Gulf CoastFeb. 7 - at SouthwestFeb. 11 - host Hinds

Itawamba sweeps Wildcat cagers;men, women sport winning records

PRCC freshman guard Olivia Magee (12) of Columbia launches a shot to the basket while she is sur-rounded by three Northeast Community College players. PRCC Sports Photos by Mitch Deaver.

N E W SThe DIXIE DRAWLDecember 2007 • Page 8

By TOM SMITHStudent Activities Coordinator

The flag football league, which consisted of 10 dif-ferent teams, finally ended this semester.

The season was filled with many highlights andbloopers, alike. Each of the teams which played in theleague had the opportunity to play as many as nineregular season games and some teams played fourplay-off games.

The season ended much as it did in the previousyear with the returning champions, “Team Chance”,winning with much fashion.

Team Chance played the championship flag footballgame under the lights at Holden Stadium against“Team Futbol” (aka: the Soccer Team). As they did inthe previous year, Team Chance primed at the righttime and was running on all cylinders when theyplayed the Soccer Team.

The game highlights included many big plays fromboth squads. But in the end, Team Chance offensiveon-slaught was too much for Team Futbol to match asthey won by the score of 38-24.

EExxttrraammuurraall pprrooggrraamm aa ssuucccceessssThe PRCC Department of Student Activities &

Intramurals is very proud of the growth it has madefor the students.

The Department of Intramural started theMississippi Junior College Extramural

Championships to make recreational sports more en-joyable for the students. This program takes theIntramural Champions from Flag Football, Basketball,and Softball and allows them to play the championsform other Junior Colleges in the state.

The program has seen much success from its startin the fall of 2006-2007. The program which beganwith just two teams (PRCC and JCJC) has grown, andhad six different Junior/Community Colleges partici-pate.

The MS JUCO Extramural Flag FootballChampionship took place in Hattiesburg this year.The event hosted teams from PRCC, MGCCC, JCJC,ECCC, Co-Lin, and Meridian.

The tournament was a huge success, and the stu-dents who participated had lots of fun.

The event symbolizes the heart and soul of what agood intramural program should be, and

Intramural Director, Thomas Smith, promises thereis more where that came from.

Other events scheduled for this year include the2007-2008 MS JUCO Basketball and SoftballChampionships.

Other plans include trying to incorporate moresports and activities for the PRCC women to partici-pate in. By incorporating more activities for bothPRCC men and women, the department of StudentActivities and Intramurals will finally be reaching itsfull potential.

Intramural flag football ends;JuCo extramural is a success

Sophomore Norman Copelandof Bassfield was named themost valuable player for thisyear’s flag football league.

Flag football fun

The PRCC softball team recently held its Maroon and Gold Flag Football series, an annual event everyfall. Above, Morgan Necaise (left) of Bay St. Louis works to elude the grasp of Courtney Dickens ofPicayune. Below, Sarah Farve (right) of Waveland pulls a flag away from runner Jessica Dubisson ofHancock. Photos by Mitch Deaver.

Team Chance, coached by Roberft Pullen, won the Flag Footballtitle this fall, and also partidcipated in the MS JUCO Extramural FlagFootball Championship

N E W SThe DIXIE DRAWL May 6, 2005 • Pg. 9

N E W SThe DIXIE DRAWLMay 6, 2005 • Pg. 10

Student Shellie DeSilvey of Wiggins had a ball painting faces duringthe celebration of Dr. Suess’s birthday.

S P O R T SThe DIXIE DRAWL May 6, 2005 • Pg. 11

S P O R T SThe DIXIE DRAWLMay 6, 2005 • Pg. 12