Ryan Ruckel selected for PTK honor Dr. Ryan Ruckel has been selected to Kappa and the Mississippi /Louisiana ‘shoot for the moon,’ so mediocrity is serve as the Regional Coordinator for Phi Region.” never an option. PTK definitely made a Theta Kappa’s Mississippi/Louisiana PRCC President William Lewis said Dr. great decision for our region.” Region. Ruckel is deserving of this honor. Ruckel holds a bachelor’s degree from Ruckel is chair of the Department of “Dr. Ruckel’s assignment as the region- Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas; Humanities and Social al coordinator for Phi Theta two master’s degrees from the University Sciences and a history instruc- Kappa for the of Southern Mississippi and a Ph.D. in tor at the Forrest County Mississippi/Louisiana region is American history from Louisiana State Center. He has served as an ad- symbolic of his dedication to University. visor for the 5 Star Beta Tau the success of every student “I’m honored to have the opportunity to Gamma PTK chapter since that he comes into contact continue this great PRCC tradition and to 2009, along with his wife, Dr. with,” he said. serve the greatest team of educators in the Terri Ruckel, and Doug “His efforts to ensure that greatest two-year college system in the AEOP delivers donations; Donohue. every student has an opportuni- world,” said Dr. Ruckel. “As regional coordinator, Dr. ty to succeed, not only in the “Pearl River Community College has collection jars are out Ruckel will work closely with classroom, but in life beyond actively served our region for many years, Associate Director of Regional higher education has become a including during the time Norma Jean The PRCC Association of Educational Office Personnel thanks and Chapter Development for Dr. Ruckel trademark for his work.” Hamill served as regional coordinator. everyone who donated items for the Pearl River County Nursing Division II Courtney Lange and Added Dr. Jana Causey, assis- “We are deeply appreciative of the sup- Home residents for Christmas. Division II Key Services Consultant tant vice president for Forrest County op- port from Dr. Lewis, Dr. Burt, and Dr. Arts and craft supplies were delivered in November so that res- Melissa Price to ensure a smooth transi- erations, “Dr. Ruckel is a great mentor and Causey, who recognize the opportunities idents could make holiday decorations. Gifts were delivered on tion and continued success for the region,” leader. His first priority is always students for leadership, scholarship, fellowship, Dec. 15. said Rod Risely, executive director of Phi and he has a special way of understanding and service that membership in Phi Theta Hannah Lumpkin, a nurse at the home, sent the following note: Theta Kappa International. student strengths and talents. Kappa provides.” “Everything from Christmas was great. There was plenty of “We are grateful for the strong commit- “He then pushes them to reach goals be- Dr. Ruckel received PTK’s Distinguished everything. We were able to give all of the residents a lot of the ment Dr. Ruckel has shown to Phi Theta yond their dreams. His mentality is to Advisor Award in April 2014. items. So they had a great Christmas. We are still using some of the items that were donated. It was appreciated in a huge way. It is always nice when you can make the residents’ Christmas mem- 2015 Miss PRCC Pageant orable. Some never get visitors and your great services allowed them to have a great present. Thank you all once again.” n AEOP members will place pink coin collection jars around the three PRCC campuses during February for donations to the PRCC Employee Cancer Fund. “Although the month of February is considered Heart Health Awareness Month, our co-workers who have been diagnosed with cancer do not get a break from their illness during February,” said AEOP president Cheryl May. Showchoir contest returns to PRCC this weekend PRCC will host the Mississippi Showchoir Contest Friday and Saturday, Feb. 6 and 7, in the Brownstone Center for the Arts. Participating middle schools include Baxterville, West Jones, Pearl River Central, Purvis, Oak Grove, Petal and South Jones. They will compete from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday with awards presented at 9:30 p.m. PRCC’s The Voices will perform at 7:15 p.m. and RiverRoad showchoir will present an exhibition per- formance at 9 p.m. High school competition begins at 8:30 a.m. Saturday and con- tinues until 4:15 p.m. Participating schools are Columbia Academy, Crestview, Fla.; Biloxi, Picayune, West Jones, South Jones, Sumrall, Pearl River Central, Oak Grove and Petal. West Marion and Crestview will also compete in the women’s division. RiverRoad will perform at 5:15 p.m. before preliminary awards are announced. Final competition will be from 7 to 9:30 p.m. followed by a per- formance by The Voices. Awards will be presented at 9:45 p.m. Above, Kaitlin Cooper of Picayune is Miss PRCC Wildcat 2015 following com- Five PRCC students earn petition Jan. 29, at the Brownstone Center. Other All-State band honors winners are, from left, Five PRCC band students will participate this weekend in the Reese Johnson of Carriere, Mississippi Community College All-State Band. second alternate; Abby The band will present a concert at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, Lowry of Hattiesburg, fourth in Bennett Auditorium at the University of Southern alternate; Kathryn Minor of Mississippi. The students will spend two days rehearsing with Hattiesburg, physical fitness top musicians from the other 14 community colleges. award; Amber Pineda of Selected by audition for the band were Ali Catoire of Carriere, Hattiesburg, first alternate flute; Sarah Nelson of Poplarville, clarinet; Chris Fletcher of and presence and compo- Columbia, trumpet; Michael Thrash of Poplarville and Devin sure winner; Belle Failla of Boothe of Lucedale, tuba. Picayune, third alternate and Miss Congeniality. Right, Chynna Coghlan, PRCC Singers will perform Miss PRCC Wildcat 2014, takes her farewell walk with USM in Hattiesburg across the stage. Left, Pineda and Cooper wait to The PRCC Singers choir will be a part of the world premiere of hear who will be crowned. “The Prodigal,” an oratorio by Mack Wilberg, American compos- n See story, photos, page 8. er and conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. This work was commissioned by the University of Southern Mississippi Choral Activities and is based on the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15. The PRCC Singers will present the oratorio with the USM choir Spring enrollment up 1% over last year at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12 at Main Street Baptist Church in Hattiesburg. Pearl River Community College’s enrollment situation,” said PRCC to be slightly shrinking. Some attribute “Our students will have the opportunity to sing with a sympho- spring semester enrollment for 2015 President William Lewis. “We wish it enrollment declines to an improving ny orchestra in a choir of about 400 singers,” said LaDona Tyson, shows a one percent increase over the was a little bit stronger, but in the envi- economy, while others cite changes in PRCC director of choral activities. “It is a unique and wonderful 2014 spring enrollment. ronment that we have in colleges and federal legislation as potential reasons. musical experience.” Through the end of registration, spring universities throughout the country, we Dr. Adam Breerwood, Vice President The oratorio also has been accepted to be performed at the enrollment was at 4,102 students. feel pretty good about where we are with for the Poplarville Campus and the Mississippi ACDA/MMEA conference in Hattiesburg in March. Records also show that students are the spring enrollment.” Hancock Center, reported that campus signed up for more credit hours, a two This spring’s increase follows a fall-se- housing is just about full for the spring Museum hours are set percent increase over 2014. mester enrollment increase of 2.4 per- semester. Enrollment at the Forrest County cent. PRCC was one of only three com- “Our dormitories are near full capacity The PRCC Museum is open daily during the spring semester. Center in Hattiesburg continues to show munity colleges in Mississippi to show and we are experiencing a spike in resi- Hours are 2-4 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday, 9-11 a.m. up well. This spring’s total is 1,200 stu- an enrollment increase in the fall. dence life students compared to last Tuesday and Thursday and 8-11 a.m. and 12-4 p.m. Friday. dents. PRCC’s increase this school year is spring,” said Breerwood. The museum is located in the old Hancock Hall near the “Our credit hours generated are up bucking national trends which show that “We have really hit the ground running PRCC Police offices. from last year, so we feel good about our community college enrollment appears this semester.” HEADWAE: Parker, Farmer recognized Dr. Amanda Parker of Petal and other instructors and they all held her in “As an instructor, I strive to make an Shannon Farmer of Richton will be hon- very high standing in the classroom. impact on my students both in and out of ored Feb. 17 during the annual HEAD- Shannon is a mother, maintains a full-time the classroom,” she said. “I want my stu- WAE observance in Jackson. job and maintains a very high GPA. dents to learn the material, but also take HEADWAE - Higher Education Above all, she was attentive in class, par- away a desire to continue learning. As in- Appreciation Day, Working for Academic ticipated in class, and showed a true desire structors, we should make the classroom Excellence - was established by the to learn.” an enjoyable experience so the students Legislature to honor academically talent- Farmer, 38, is a Hattiesburg native and want to come back.