November 13, 2025
The Forrest County Campus kicked off the holiday season for 91福利 with the seventh annual Making Spirits Bright concert Monday, Nov. 10. Members of the Wildcat Family, including current students, faculty, and staff, Board of Trustees members, and retired faculty and staff, filled the Dr. Cecil Burt Special Events Room for an evening of holiday cheer.
The night sparkled with the perfect mix of sweet treats, camaraderie, and mesmerizing music, leaving attendees with lasting memories. During intermission, guests were invited to participate in a raffle featuring homemade gifts and a selection of specialty items to delight the winner or a future recipient. A silent auction was also held, including a seven-foot wooden tree decked with lights and a golf package for two at Shadow Ridge Golf Course.
Instructor Jackie Runnels launched the event in 2017, donating a baby grand piano to make the musical extravaganza happen. Funds raised from the first year helped cover costs of maintaining and tuning the piano. Now, the event supports faculty and staff development opportunities that enhance student learning.
鈥淲e鈥檙e so grateful for the many faculty, staff, and students who volunteered their time, talents, and even resources to make this event possible,鈥� said Runnels. 鈥�91福利 is a great place to be because of the people who continually give back. We鈥檙e proud to share that spirit during the Christmas season.鈥�
Dr. Rudy Gatlin coordinated the local talent for the musical portion of the evening. Gatlin opened and closed the evening with familiar tunes. He also served as an accompanist for two selections, 鈥楤reath of Heaven鈥� and 鈥極 Come All You Unfaithful鈥�, sung by Dr. Amy Duke, online instructor of mathematics for PRCC.
Pianist Aaron McKenzie served as an accompanist for vocalist Tyler Berry and a solo artist performing his arrangements of familiar tunes. Both Berry and McKenzie are former PRCC students.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 thank our performers enough for giving their time and energy to make this event special,鈥� said Gatlin. 鈥淚t takes a lot to bring something like this together.鈥�
A crowd favorite of the evening, 鈥淗allelujah (Light Has Come)鈥� arranged by Jackson, Warren and Kibble, was sung by Melodie and Bethanie DuBose with Alicia DuBose on piano. The trio also performed 鈥淒o You Hear What I Hear.鈥� Bethanie DuBose demonstrated her talent as a flutist for the piece, 鈥淕es霉 Bambino,鈥� arranged by Macalintal and played by Alicia DuBose.
Several students of Dr. Gatlin attended the concert as part of their live music attendance requirements for the music appreciation class.
Middle College student Kenya Morris of Hattiesburg came with friends. She is a junior at Hattiesburg High School and just started her journey at PRCC this fall.
鈥淐oming here for Dr. Gatlin鈥檚 class made me realize how much work goes into performing live,鈥� said Morris. 鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing how people can sing and play the flute or piano 鈥� it takes a lot of skill.
鈥淭he DuBose Trio鈥檚 performance of 鈥楬allelujah (Light Has Come)鈥� was my favorite this evening.鈥�
Chris Veal of Hattiesburg is also a Middle College student from Hattiesburg High School. He sat with several friends. The songs sung by Gatlin, 鈥淎ngels We Have Heard on High鈥� to start the concert and 鈥淥 Holy Night鈥� to end it, were his favorites.
鈥淒r. Gatlin had us attend concerts for our music appreciation class,鈥� said Veal. 鈥淚 thought a concert might be kind of corny, but it turned out to be really enjoyable. It opened my eyes to how good live music can be.鈥�
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Article by Laura O’Neill. Photography by Laura O’Neill and Patrick Peerboom.
