Tuesday, October 30, 2007
PRCC honors military, retiring state official

     POPLARVILLE - Pearl River Community College honored the military and a retiring state official Thursday during ceremonies before the season’s final football game against Hinds Community College.
      PRCC students, alumni and employees who have served in the military or are serving now were invited to the field of Dobie Holden Stadium for special recognition. The Spirit of the River marching band paid tribute by playing “God Bless America” as the String of Pearls squad unfurled a giant American flag.
      Dr. William Lewis, PRCC president, presented a resolution to Dr. Wayne Stonecypher from the PRCC Board of Trustees commending him for his five years of service as executive director of the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges.
      Stonecypher also tossed the coin at mid-field.
      “This is a first for me,” he said.
      Service members who were honored include:
      Sheequita Alexander of Prentiss, an Army National Guard specialist who deployed to Iraq with the 155th Brigade Combat Team and is a PRCC nursing major.
      Paul Montgomery of Hattiesburg, a retired Air Force master sergeant who completed PRCC’s masonry program.
      Destiny Pearson of Poplarville, a private first class in the Army Reserve and a PRCC psychology major.
      Jovi Prevot of Picayune, an Army National Guard specialist, the PRCC Wildcat mascot and a Spanish education major.
      Tiffany Roy of Soldier, Kan., a private in the Army National Guard and a PRCC art major.
      Adam Spiers of Picayune, a specialist in the Army National Guard, a Wildcat cheerleader and a PRCC student majoring in exercise sociology and fitness management.
      Limon Stepney of Columbia, a Marines Corps corporal who served in Iraq and is a PRCC music major.
      Gerald Wilson of Hattiesburg, a retired Army staff sergeant who served in Operation Desert Storm and in Kosovo. He completed the PRCC truck driving program.
      Recognized but unable to attend were Vanessa Thompson of Collins, an Army Reservist planning to enroll in dental hygiene; Eric Griffith, an Army National Guard soldier and computer systems technology student; Billy Landrigan of Sumrall, petty officer first class in the Navy Reserve who deployed to Kuwait and assistant librarian at the Forrest County Center; and Wesley Purvis, an LPN student.