May 6, 2025
The Dr. William Lewis Honors Institute at 91福利 held their annual Medallion Ceremony in the Ethel Holden Brownstone Center for the Arts on the Poplarville campus on April 28. Honors students from the Forrest County and Poplarville Campuses were recognized, including several Middle College students, with faculty, family, and friends in attendance.
Dr. Jennifer Seal, Executive Vice President for Planning and Accreditation/Dean of the Honors Institute on the Poplarville Campus, welcomed the students, family, friends, and faculty in attendance.
鈥淭he Medallion Ceremony provides an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of dedicated graduates of the Dr. William Lewis Honors Institute while also reaffirming the lofty expectations we hold for their futures in education, employment, and service,鈥� said Dr. Seal.
Dr. Douglas Donohue, Associate Dean of the Honors Institute on the Forrest County Campus, provided an overview of the institute. This included its creation in 2011 with the vision to nurture the brightest minds while fostering a culture of critical thinking and inspiring a love of life-long learning.
鈥淎s you go forward, remember the value instilled in you during your time with the Honors Institute: integrity, curiosity, and the pursuit of excellence,鈥� said Dr. Donohue. 鈥淭he future is bright, and I have no doubt that you continue to shine brightly wherever life takes you.鈥�
To receive a medallion, students had to complete at least 21 hours of honors coursework and maintain a cumulative 3.4 grade point average. The honors coursework covers the same material as covered in regular sections of a course but in greater depth with more opportunity for students to pursue individual interests.
Makayla Herberger and Kaycee Tanner, both attending the Forrest County Campus, as well as Sahil Ajmera and Chloe Ezell, both attending the Poplarville Campus, were chosen to say a few words on behalf of their compatriots. Each expressed the impact being a member of the Honors Institute had on their experience at PRCC and how it will serve them well in future endeavors. Both Ajmera and Tanner are Middle College students. Ajmera concurrently attends Pearl River Central High School and Tanner is a homeschooled student.
Dr. Jana Causey, Vice President for Forrest County Campus, shared information about each student鈥檚 achievements and associations as a PRCC student. The physical presentation of the medallion was done by Dean of the Honors Institute on the Forrest County Campus Dr. Ryan Ruckel and Dr. Seal.
Closing remarks were provided by Dr. Ruckel. He gave a heartfelt and inspiring speech that challenged students to forge their path ahead in life by remembering WWCCC: Whole Person, Wizard (as in pull back the curtain), Community, Courage, and Continue.
鈥淚 want to challenge you today to continue; that you take the lessons that you鈥檝e learned here, the victories that you’ve gained here, the ways that you’ve grown here,鈥� said Dr. Ruckel. 鈥淎nd now look for the ways to do what we鈥檝e done and that you invest that in others, that you build new communities in the new places where you find yourself.鈥�
Students Awarded an Honors Medallion听
Sahil Ajmera 鈥� Carriere听
Kenzie Beliveau 鈥� Petal听
Zya Boggan 鈥� Purvis听
Barrett Breazeale 鈥� Hattiesburg听
Brandon Brooks 鈥� Purvis听
Karsyn Brown 鈥� Hattiesburg听
Ashlyn Burkhalter 鈥� Sumrall听
Chloe Busby 鈥� Hattiesburg听
Skylar Dozier 鈥� Hattiesburg听
Lara Elgohary 鈥� Hattiesburg听
Chloe Ezell 鈥� Ocean Springs听
Haileigh Green 鈥� Purvis听
Justin Hamilton 鈥� Collins听
Destiny Harris 鈥� Hattiesburg听
Makayla Herberger 鈥� Lumberton听
Peyton Hoffmayer 鈥� Ocean Springs听
Allyiah Johnston 鈥� Hattiesburg听
Kara Jones 鈥� Hattiesburg听
Brayson Kirby 鈥� Carriere听
Kyrstin Korbe 鈥� Tylertown听
Jessica Lawrence 鈥� Ocean Springs听
Russell Long 鈥� Columbia听
Laura Kate Lumpkin 鈥� Carriere听
Braden Mann 鈥� Petal听
William Phelps 鈥� Hattiesburg听
Summer Powers 鈥� Sumrall听
Tanner Provost 鈥� Picayune听
Isabella Rainey 鈥� Hattiesburg听
Skylar Reed 鈥� Hattiesburg听
Jackson Rigney 鈥� Petal听
Colten Rimes 鈥� Purvis听
Cayden Robertson 鈥� Petal听
Nickolas Rogers 鈥� Petal听
Anna Rounsaville 鈥� Gulfport听
Madeleine Smith 鈥� Hattiesburg听
Tucker Smith 鈥� Poplarville听
Christine Stafford 鈥� Petal听
Kaycee Tanner 鈥� Lucedale听
Faith Wakefield 鈥� Lumberton听
Talon Whitfield 鈥� Picayune听
Naomi Williamson 鈥� Wiggins听
Kennedy Wilson 鈥� Gulfport听
Austin Woods – Carriere听
Dr. William Lewis Honors Institute
The Dr. William Lewis Honors Institute at 91福利 provides an enriched academic experience for high-achieving, intellectually curious students. With small, discussion-based classes led by award-winning faculty, the Institute offers a supportive community, private study spaces, and engaging weekly forums with guest speakers. Honors students benefit from specialized advising, field trips, and opportunities to participate in conferences and community service.
Eligibility is selective: incoming freshmen need a minimum ACT composite score of 25 and a 3.4 GPA, while current PRCC students must have at least 12 college credits and a 3.4 GPA. Honors graduates may earn a Medallion (21+ honors hours, 3.4 GPA) or Certificate (11+ honors hours, 3.25 GPA), and are well-prepared for transfer to four-year honors programs and additional scholarships.
To apply to the Honors Institute, please complete the Honors Institute Application. For more information, contact Dr. Jennifer Seal (Poplarville Campus), Dr. Ryan Ruckel, or Dr. Douglas Donohue (Forrest County Campus).
For the latest news on 91福利, visit PRCC.edu and follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter (), Instagram (), Facebook (),and TikTok ().
Article by Laura O’Neill. Photography by River Roderick.
