Jones County Junior College
Jones College is a public community college in Ellisville, Mississippi. It is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and serves its eight-county district consisting of Clarke, Covington, Greene, Jasper, Jones, Perry, Smith and Wayne counties. The college holds membership in the Mississippi Association of Colleges, the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges, and the American Association of Community and Junior Colleges.
Former names | Jones County Agricultural High School Jones County Junior College |
---|---|
Motto | Inspiring Greatness |
Type | Public community college |
Established | September 18, 1911 |
Academic affiliations | Space-grant |
President | Dr. Jesse Smith, Ph.D. |
Location | , , United States |
Campus | Rural, 360 acres |
Colors | Maroon and Gold |
Nickname | Bobcats |
Mascot | Bruiser the Bobcat |
Website | www.jcjc.edu |
Although a community college, its sports teams have some achieved some notability. In 1955, the Jones County Junior College football team became the first all-white team in Mississippi to play a racially integrated team. This occurred when Jones County played in the Junior Rose Bowl, now the Pasadena Bowl, against Compton Community College in Compton, California.[1] In 2014, the men's basketball team defeated Indian Hills Community College to win the NJCAA National Championship.[2]
History
In 1922, Mississippi allowed college courses to be included in the curriculum of agricultural high schools. The Jones County Agricultural High School became the Jones County Agricultural High School and Junior College. The Jones County Agricultural High School was founded in 1911. In September 1927, the first 26 students attended the college. The Junior College separated with the Jones County Agricultural High School in 1957.[3]
In 2018, the college was rebranded as Jones College. The school is still legally called Jones County Junior College.
Notable alumni
Football
- Deion Branch, former NFL wide receiver and Super Bowl XXXIX MVP.[4]
- Jackie Parker, football player, member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
- Damien Wilson, NFL linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs and Super Bowl LIV champion.[5]
- Ellis Lankster NFL Cornerback[6]
- Javon Kinlaw NFL defensive tackle for the San Francisco 49ers.[7]
- Johnathan Abram NFL Safety [8]
Other
- Charles W. Pickering (Class of 1957), former Mississippi state senator and retired judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi and the United States Court of Appeal for the Fifth Circuit[9]
- Stacey Pickering, State Auditor of Mississippi
- Red West, actor
- Chase Sherman, professional Mixed Martial Artist, current UFC Heavyweight[10]
- Gary Staples, Mississippi state legislator
Notable faculty
- Ray Perkins, former head football coach
- Anthony Maddox, former assistant football coach
References
- "Erle E. Johnston, Jr., Papers". lib.usm.edu. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
- "No. 11-seed Jones County goes distance for Men's Basketball crown". NJCAA. March 22, 2014.
- Jones County Junior College :: Inspiring Greatness. (2016). Jcjc.edu. Retrieved 4 December 2016, from http://www.jcjc.edu/about/collegeprofile.php
- Super Bowl XXXIX
- "Former Bobcat Damien Wilson wins Super Bowl LIV". Jones College Athletics. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
- "Bobcats in the NFL". Archived from the original on 2010-07-22. Retrieved Feb 2, 2018.
- "How JUCO football changed Javon Kinlaw's life". TheBigSpur. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
- Former bobcat Abram selected in first round by Raiders, Jones County Athletics
- "Charles W. Pickering, Sr". fjc.gov. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
- http://www.wlox.com/story/32530137/dibervilles-chase-sherman-ready-for-his-first-ufc-fight-in-salt-lake-city-next-month