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Press Release Archives
April 1-15, 1999

Baseball 'Cats Split With Lions

     POPLARVILLE   Pearl River Community College split with East Mississippi in non-
division baseball doubleheader action here Tuesday.
     PRCC dropped the first game 2-1, then won the nightcap 10-8. The Wildcats are now 13-
27 overall, while the Lions are 16-20.
     East Miss won the first game with runs in the second and sixth innings. The Lions went up
1-0 thanks to a double, a single, and two PRCC errors (three total). Pearl River tied it up in the
fourth when Clay Hannaford's single scored Scott Putnam. The Lions won the game in the top of
the sixth off a single and a double.
     Daniel Beard (5-4) went the distance in picking-up the win, while Steven Budde (1-6) got
the loss. Kile Foster and Joey Dunaway relieved for the Wildcats.
     Both squads finished with six hits. Hannaford, Scott Putnam, Casey Weems, David
Moore, Chip Bilderback, and JoJo Moudy all had singles for PRCC, while Brad Loftin led EMCC
with two doubles.
     In the nightcap, the Wildcats scored four in the third and four in the fourth to go up 8-0,
but the Lions would eventually rally. David Hobgood and Jeremy Chance both had two-RBI
doubles in the third, while EMCC starter Brandon Smith opened the bottom of the fourth with a
hit batter and two walks to load the bases. Chip Bilderback's triple scored three runs and Greg
Mitchell's single scored Bilderback.
     The Lions made it 8-1 in the fifth, but PRCC answered with Hannaford's RBI sacrifice in
the bottom of the inning. Wildcat starter Joby Hogan had allowed the Lions only one hit when he
was relieved after five innings by Matt Williams. Eight batters later, things were 9-5 and the
Wildcats had also used relievers Foster and Joey Dunaway before they got out of the winning
with a one-run lead   9-8. The Wildcats answered with the game's final run in the bottom of the
sixth off an RBI single by Jeremy Chance.
     Hannaford took over the mound after Dunaway recorded back-to-back walks to open the
seventh. The Lumberton freshman finished-off the Lions with a walk and three strikeouts.
     Hogan (1-0) got the win, while Hannaford got the save. Brandon Smith (2-3) was the
losing pitcher, while Jeremy Bell and Neil Phillip saw relief duty. There were no errors in the
game.
     Wayne Giles paced PRCC's 13-hit attack with three singles, while Bilderback singled and
tripled. Paul Purvis, Weems, and Chance had two singles a piece, while Ike Keene and Mitchell
singled. Chris Markham and Ryan Taylor had two singles each for EM, while Rob McKay and
Jimmy Grace doubled.
     The Wildcats host division foe East Central Saturday, then wraps-up the regular season
with Mississippi Gulf Coast on Wednesday and Hinds the final Saturday. All are 1 p.m.
doubleheaders.
     The 1999 State Tournament will be held at the home diamond of the South Division
champion April 30 through May 2, while the Region 23 Tournament is set for May 6-9 at a site to
be determined.

     TUPELO   Pearl River Community College's golf team was two strokes shy of winning
the Division III title at the Itawamba Invitational here Tuesday at Big Oak Country Club in the
final regular season tournament of the season.
     Defending Region 23 Division III champion Copiah-Lincoln shot a 326 team score to
eclipsed the Wildcats' 327.
     Brian Lee of Petal led PRCC with a 78, while D.J. Pulley of Sumrall shot an 81, Travis
Orgeron of LaRose, La., an 83; and Shawn Ferguson of Picayune an 85.
     Other Division III finishers included Jones (355) third, East Central (368) fourth, and East
Mississippi (388) fifth.
     Meridian took the Division II title with a 305, followed by Hinds (308), Mississippi Gulf
Coast (314), Itawamba (316), Northwest (318), Holmes (327), and Northeast (332).
     The 1999 State Tournament is set for May 19-20 at Mallard Point Golf Club in Sardis,
while the National Tournament is June 6-11 at Riverwood Golf Club in Clayton, N.C.
     Northwest is the defending Division II champions, while Meridian won the Division II
regional title last year.
     Division III schools offer no scholarship benefits to players, while Division II schools offer
tuition only scholarships.

Wildcats 3-11 In South Division Following Split, Sweep
Pearl River Road Trips See Doubleheader Split With Hinds, Sweep By Jones

     POPLARVILLE   Pearl River Community College's Wildcats fell to 3-11 in the South
Division following Saturday's doubleheader sweep   11-1 and 9-3   by Jones Junior College in
Ellisville.
     PRCC split with Hinds in Raymond Thursday, losing the first game 8-7, but winning the
second 13-4. The Wildcats are now 9-23 overall.
     Saturday at Ellisville, Bobcat lefty Bert Migues (3-1) hurled a two-hitter en route to his
third win of the season. Jones went up 2-0 in the bottom of the first, but PRCC's solo run in the
second was all it could muster. The Bobcats added two more in the third, three in the fifth, and
four in the sixth to take their seventh division win of the season via the 10-run rule.
     Centerfielder David Moore of Columbia had both of the Wildcats' hits with a single and a
double, while Brett Cooley led the Bobcats with a single and a double.
     Righthander Steven Budde (0-5) of Slidell, La., who made his first start in over a month
after an elbow ailment, was the losing pitcher, while Matt Williams of Brooklyn (Forrest County
AHS) and Greg Mitchell of Picayune saw relief duty.
     In the second game, Pearl River was scoreless until the top of the seventh, but the
Wildcats' last gasp three runs weren't nearly enough for the win.
     Jones broke a 0-0 deadlock in the bottom of the fourth, turning back-to-back doubles and
six walks into five runs. JCJC added a solo run in the fifth and three in the sixth.
     Righthander Casey Broussard (2-0) was the winning pitcher in going the distance, while
righthander James Cagle (1-2) of Purvis went 3 2/3 innings and picked up the loss. Kile Foster of
Bay St. Louis (St. Stanislaus), Joey Dunaway of Slidell, La.; and Joby Hogan of New Orleans,
La., saw relief duty.
     Casey Weems of Bay St. Louis (Bay High) led PRCC with two singles, while Scott
Putnam of Lumberton, Paul Purvis of Purvis, Moore, and Ford singled. Cooley paced Jones with
two doubles, while Rocky Ford and Shayne Jensen both singled and doubled.
     At Hinds on Thursday, Pearl River led 5-1, until the host Eagles rallied for four in the
bottom of the sixth to ties things up. PRCC answered with two in the top of the seventh, but
Hinds sent things into an extra inning with its two in the bottom of the inning. The Eagles' solo
run in the eighth iced the division win.
     Hinds Kevin Stewart was the winning pitcher in going the distance, while Dunaway (2-2)
picked-up the loss. Cagle, Williams, Hannaford, and Foster relieved.
     Moore paced PRCC's six-hit attack with a homer and a double, while David Hobgood of
Columbia (East Marion) doubled. Ben Chastain paced Hinds with two doubles.
     In the second game, Pearl River blasted 10 hits to take the 13-4 win. The Wildcats put the
Eagles away early, jumping to a 6-0 lead after 1 1/2. Hinds fought back to pull within two   6-4
  in the bottom of the third, but PRCC added three in the fifth and four in the seventh to take its
third division win of the season.
     Lefty Rudy Smith (5-4) of Slidell, La., was the winning pitcher in going the distance, while
Hinds used five hurlers.
     Hobgood and Moore both singled and homered, while JoJo Moudy of Brooklyn (Forrest
County AHS) and Clay Hannaford of Lumberton both singled and doubled. Shandell Lockridge
had two singles for Hinds.
     Pearl River travels to Southwest in Summit Tuesday for a 2 p.m. doubleheader, marking
its last road games of the season, then returns home to wrap-up the regular season with five
doubleheaders. Co-Lin is first on the agenda Saturday (1 p.m. doubleheader), the East Mississippi
visits Tuesday (4 p.m. doubleheader). Doubleheaders against East Central (April 17), Mississippi
Gulf Coast (April 21), and Hinds (April 24) will close-out the regular season.

Lady Wildcats Swept By Jones In Ellisville

     ELLISVILLE   Pearl River Community College's Lady Wildcat softball team is
11-14 overall and 3-3 in the South Division after the arch-rival Jones Lady Bobcats took a
6-5, 10-0 doubleheader sweep here Thursday.
     In the first game, PRCC led 3-1 after one inning, then added solo runs in the
third and fifth, but JCJC scored two in the fourth, one in the sixth, and two in the seventh to
take the 6-5 come-from-behind victory.
     Jones finished with 15 hits, while PRCC has 11, including a triple and two
doubles from Traci McMichael of Foxworth (West Marion). Marie (Rie-Rie) Willoughby of
Poplarville and Carrie Thornhill of Sandy Hook (West Marion) each managed a single and a double,
while Leah Fincannon of Petal, Alicia Lenoir of Carriere (Pearl River Central), and
Pinky Willis of Brooklyn (Forrest County AHS) all had singles.
     "We should've won that one, but let it slip away," said fourth-year head coach
Laurie Neelis. "I guess we were hanging our heads so much that we were wiped-out in the
second game.
     In the 10-zip shutout, PRCC managed only six hits. Thornhill collected two
singles, while McMichael, Jessica Fiveash of Brooklyn (FCAHS), Stacy Guillot of Poplarville, and
Kam Fairchild of Poplarville all had singles. Jones turned in 13 hits.
     PRCC traveled to Southwest in Summit for a 3 p.m. division doubleheader
Monday, then hosts division rival Mississippi Gulf Coast Tuesday in a 3 p.m. doubleheader. A
make-up doubleheader with Copiah-Lincoln is set for Wednesday at 3 p.m.

PRCC's Marion/Jefferson Davis County alumni plan spring meeting at the Prentiss Country Fisherman

     POPLARVILLE - Pearl River Community College's Marion/Jefferson
Davis County Alumni spring meeting is set for Tuesday, April 13 at
7 p.m. at the Country Fisherman on Columbia Avenue (Main Street) in
Prentiss.
     To order seafood buffet tickets call Lewis King at 943-5876,
Berlon Lee at 736-3488, Bill Davis at 736-4827, Ken's Welding Shop
at 736-4136, Tony Waits at 792-4467, Cecil Anderson at 792-4231,
Dr. Sharon Dungan at 792-4267, or Mrs. Jimmy Brinson at 792-4255.
     Tickets are $12 each. Entertainment will be provided and the
dress is casual.

Pearl River College's RiverGold variety show set for April 15 & 16

     POPLARVILLE - Pearl River Community College will present its
Choral Department's RiverGold Review, April 15 and 16 in Moody Hall
Auditorium.
     The bi-annual variety show features the college's three vocal
performing organizations which include the Pearl River Singers
concert choir, RiverRoad showchoir, and the Voices, a select vocal
ensemble.
     The show will include everything from Broadway show tunes to
country music.
     As a prelude to each of the fours acts, vocal instructor Dr.
Pamela Jones, will perform notable works such as Ain't Misbehavin',
Come Rain or Come Shine, and Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man.
     RiverGold Revue begins at 7:30 p.m. each evening. A donation
of $3 for adults and students, and $2 for children, 12 and under,
is requested.
     For ticket information call 795-1180.

PRCC Men 6-5, Women 4-6 Following April Fool's Day Trip To Gulf Coast

     GULFPORT   The Pearl River Community College men's and women's tennis teams are
6-5 and 4-6, respectively, following a successful April Fool's Day trip to Mississippi Gulf Coast's
Jefferson Davis campus.
     PRCC's men are 6-5 overall after defeating Gulf Coast 7-2 and falling to Copiah-Lincoln
5-4, while the women improved to 4-6 with their 9-0 trouncing of Gulf Coast.
     Against Gulf Coast, the Wildcats and Lady Wildcats won five matches each (two doubles,
three singles) by default.
     In men's singles, Joey Sumrall (PR) of Sumrall defeated Henry Cespedes (GC) 6-3, 3-6,
6-4; Kevin Goldsmith (PR) of Poplarville defeated Terry Davis 6-3, 6-1; and Bo Bowman (GC)
defeated Mark Hancock (PR) of Picayune 6-2, 7-5.
     In men's doubles, Cespedes-Davis (GC) defeated Sumrall-Jeff Rose of Bay St. Louis (PR)
8-5.
     In women's singles, Jennifer Morgan (PR) of Hattiesburg defeated Brandi Ladner (GC) 6-
1, 6-2; April Williams (PR) of Poplarville defeated Angela Duranger 6-0, 6-2; and Mandy Ladner
(PR) of Carriere defeated Kathy Archibald (GC) 6-1, 6-1.
     In women's doubles, Morgan-Janice Burke (PR) of Picayune defeated Ladner-Duranger
8-0.
     In men's singles against Co-Lin, Sumrall (PR) defeated John Allen (CL) 6-3, 0-6, 6-2;
Brent Thomas (CL) defeated Rose (PR) 2-6, 7-6, 7-6; Goldsmith (PR) defeated Richey Magee
(CL) 6-3, 7-5; Clint Rogillio (CL) defeated Matt Nunnally (PR) of Oak Grove 6-3, 6-4; Hancock
(PR) defeated J.J. Tullis (CL) 6-4, 6-3; and Matt Hall (CL) defeated Nando Lopes (PR) of
Carriere 7-5, 7-6.
     In men's doubles against Co-Lin, Allen-Thomas (CL) defeated Nunnally-Rose (PR) 8-1,
Magee-Rogillio (CL) defeated Sumrall-Goldsmith (PR) 8-4, and Hancock-Kevin Rhudy of
Picayune (PR) defeated Hall-Tullis (CL) 8-6.

Lady Wildcats Sweep Lady Bears
PRCC 16-10 Overall, 8-4 In Division After Taking Doubleheader From SWCC

     POPLARVILLE   Pearl River Community College's Lady Wildcats kept the Southwest
Lady Bears' winless season intact here Wednesday, sweeping a South Division doubleheader 16-
15 and 17-10.
     PRCC improved to 16-10 overall and 8-4 in division play with the wins, while SWCC
dropped to 0-14 and 0-14.
     In the first game, Pearl River led 7-1 after three innings, but Southwest produced a six-run
rally in the top of the fourth to tie things up. Even though PRCC answered with five to take a 12-
7 lead, the visitors scored six in the sixth to grab a 13-12 edge.
     Things continued to see-saw with PRCC going up 14-13 in the bottom of the fifth, but
Southwest scored solo runs in the sixth and seventh to make things 15-14. The stage was set for
slugger Jessica Fiveash of Brooklyn (Forrest County AHS), who bashed a two-run shot over left
to snatch the victory.
     Fiveash finished the day with six RBIs, in addition to a double and a triple. Poplarville's
Marie (Rie-Rie) Willoughby led PRCC's 16-hit effort with four singles, while Carry Thornill of
Sandy Hook (West Marion), Pinky Willis of Brooklyn (FCAHS), and Kelly Lewis of Carriere
(Pearl River Central) had two singles a piece. Traci McMichael of Foxworth (West Marion)
tripled, while Leah Fincannon of Petal singled and sacrificed twice to match Fiveash's RBI total.
Mary Whitehead of Sumrall also singled.
     Fincannon picked-up the win in going the distance, while Kasey Brent was the losing
pitcher. Southwest finished with 18 hits and one error, while PRCC made an uncharacteristic four
miscues.
     In the second game, Pearl River trailed 10-3 before its offense began to click in the bottom
of the fifth. The Lady Bears opened the game with five runs, then added two and three in the
fourth and fifth, respectively.
     Fiveash blasted a two-RBI triple to pull PRCC within two, then McMichael and Fincannon
followed with singles, tying the score. Thornhill and Willis each cracked two-RBI singles to end
the inning with The River on top 14-10.
     Southwest was held scoreless, while PRCC added three in the sixth.
     Willoughby duplicated her performance in the first game, collecting four singles (four
RBIs) of her team's 15 hits. Fiveash also doub led, while Lenoir and McMicahel had two singles
each. Fincannon, Thornhill, Lewis, Kristen Parker of Bogalusa, La.; and Jana Jenkins of Brooklyn
(FCAHS) all singled. PRCC committed four errors, while SWCC had 11 hits and one error.
     The Lady Wildcats host South Division rival Copiah-Lincoln today in a 3 p.m.
doubleheader, then visit Co-Lin in Wesson Friday at 3 p.m. Hinds hosts PRCC at 3 p.m. in
Raymond Tuesday.

Wildcats Split With Bears On Road
PRCC Bombed By Host Southwest 17-8 In Opener, But Win Nightcap 9-7

     SUMMIT   Pearl River Community College's Wildcats split with Southwest here
Tuesday in South Division doubleheader baseball action.
     PRCC fell 17-8 in the first game, but bounded-back with a 9-7 win in the nightcap to
improve to 10-26 overall, 4-12 in division play; while Southwest stands at 18-17 and 6-10.
     In the opener, SWCC used a 13-run third inning to ice the victory after Pearl River led 4-1
after 2 1/2. PRCC managed four in the fourth and one in the sixth, but couldn't catch-up.
     Clay Hannaford paced the Wildcats' 10-run effort with two singles and a double, while
David Hobgood doubled and bashed his ninth home run of the season. Chip Bilderback had a pair
of singles, while Scott Putnam, Casey Weems, and Todd Sandifer all singled.
     Courtney Dunn (5-1) was he winning pitcher, while Matt Williams (0-5) picked-up the
loss. Joey Dunaway, JoJo Moudy, James Cagle, Steven Budde, Kile Foster, and Hobgood saw
relief duty.
     It took nine innings to decide the second game. Southwest led 3-0 for the first four
innings, but PRCC tied things in the top of the fifth. The Bears answered with a solo run to go up
by one, but the Wildcats retaliated with four in the sixth to lead 7-4. Southwest's three in the
bottom of the seventh pushed things into extra innings.
     The eight went for zilch, but PRCC scored two in the top of the ninth for the 9-7 win.
     Hannaford (2-5) picked-up the win in relief of starter Rudy Smith, who hurled six innings,
striking out six. Joey Allen was the losing pitcher.
     PRCC finished with 10 hits, led by David Moore with two doubles, while Putnam singled
and doubled. Weems, Bilderback, and Hobgood collected two singles each.
     With four division doubleheaders remaining, Pearl River is two games behind Hinds (6-10
in division) for a Region 23 Tournament berth. PRCC and Hinds join Co-Lin as Division II
schools in the South Division. May 6-9's Region 23 Tournament includes the top two Division II
and the top two Division I schools from the North and South divisions.
     Division I schools can offer full baseball scholarships, while Division II schools offer
tuition only scholarships.
     The Wildcats will host Co-Lin Saturday in a 1 p.m. doubleheader, then East Mississippi
Tuesday in a 4 p.m. doubleheader.

String of Pearls tryouts set for April 13

     POPLARVILLE - Pearl River Community College String of Pearls
tryouts are scheduled for April 13 at 3:30 p.m. in the Band Hall.
     Applicants must be single, not married, female, and not older
than 21 years of age.
     Participants must wear dance leotard, gym shorts, and tennis
shoes during the tryout. Dance experience is desired.
     Candidates will be taught a dance and kick routine in the
tryout session. Participants will also be weighed and measured at
tryouts.
     For more information call 601-795-1180.

Co-Lin Sweeps Lady Wildcats
PRCC Softball Team Drops To 16-12 Overall, 8-6 In South Division

     POPLARVILLE   The Pearl River Community College Lady Wildcat softball team was
swept by Copiah-Lincoln's Lady Wolves in a South Division doubleheader here Thursday.
     Co-Lin handed PRCC a bruising 23-3 loss in the first game, then pulled-off a 15-14
squeaker in the nightcap. The Lady Wildcats dropped to 16-12 overall and 8-6 in division play,
while the Lady Wolves improved to 13-7 and 9-3.
     The opener was over quickly, as Co-Lin was up 13-0 before the first Lady Wildcat
stepped to the plate. PRCC, which managed only four hits in the game, scored solo runs in the
first, second, and third; but the Lady Wolves' seven in the second and three in the third ended the
game via the 15-run rule. CLCC's Somer Lewis blasted a grand slam homer in the second.
     For PRCC, Jessica Fiveash doubled, while Traci McMichael, Leah Fincannon, and Kelly
Lewis all singled.
     Candice Brashier was the star of Co-Lin's 15-hit show with three singles, while Lewis also
had a single. Erin Delany singled and doubled, while Tammy Case, Kit Brashier, and Jessica
Young had two singles a piece. Crystal Allen tripled and Rani Hammett singled.
     CLCC pitcher Jessica Young got the win, while Fincannon got the loss.
     The second game was a completely different story. PRCC fell behind 2-0 in the top of the
second, but rallied for the lead with seven in the bottom of the inning. Co-Lin made it 7-4 in the
bottom of the third, then the Lady Wildcats added a solo run to make things 8-4.
     In the top of the fourth, the Lady Wolves quickly tied things up, then Lee Higginbottom
cracked an RBI single to snag a 9-8 Co-Lin lead. In the bottom of the inning, Pearl River scored
two runs off a fielder's choice, then Kristen Parker got a two-RBI single to take an 11-9 edge, but
in the top of the fifth, Misty Hunsucker tied the score with a two-RBI single, then Lewis doubled-
in two more runs to give Co-Lin the lead for good. Kit Brashier and Higgenbottom followed with
doubles (two RBIs each) and things were 15-11 after 5 1/2.
     PRCC's Pinky Willis and Fincannon had RBIs in the bottom of the fifth, while Fincannon
scored in the bottom of the seventh off the Lady Wolves' only error of the game: Co-Lin 15,
Pearl River 14.
     The Lady Wildcats had 15 hits, led by Fincannon and Willis with three singles each, while
Fiveash singled and doubled, Stacey Guillot had two singles, Thornhill doubled, and Parker, Alicia
Lenoir, and Marie (Rie-Rie) Willoughby all singled. PRCC made two errors in the game.
     Co-Lin finished with 13 hits, paced by Higginbottom's two singles and double, while
Leiws had three singles. Case and Candice Brashier had two singles each, Kit Brashier doubled,
and Hammett and Young, who picked-up her second win of the day on the mound, both singled.
     PRCC eyes a Co-Lin rematch today (Friday) at 3 p.m. in Wesson, then Hinds hosts The
River Tuesday in Raymond at 3 p.m. Jones visits Pearl River next Thursday for a 3 p.m.
doubleheader.

Theater scholarships offered at Pearl River College

     POPLARVILLE - Pearl River Community College will offer Theater Department
scholarships for the first time this fall.
     PRCC's Board of Trustees recently approved six one-half tuition Academic
scholarships for each semester starting in August this year. The scholarships are based on
audition.
     Auditions for the Fall Semester will be held on June 1.  For more information, or to
get applications contact Chris Wooten at 601- 795-1171.

Pearl River's Chris Wooten receives acting awards

     POPLARVILLE - Chris Wooten, Pearl River Community College Theater and
Communication instructor, received awards for "Best Actor In A Supporting Role" and
for "Best Set Design" during the Mississippi Theater Association's annual meeting was held
recently at Millsaps College in Jackson.
     The Association hosted theater competitions on Community, High School, and
College/University levels.
     Chris Wooten represented PRCC in the College/University division and participated
in a community theater entry from Hattiesburg's Just Over The Rainbow Theater (JORT).
JORT presented Act II of Tennessee William's "Cat on A Hot Tin Roof". Even though JORT
did not receive the award for best show, their efforts were rewarded.
     Wooten received an award for his portrayal of "Brick" and for designing the set.
     Dennis Granbury of Hattiesburg received an "All Star" acting award for his portrayal
of "Big Daddy".  This is the most awards won by JORT since they have actively participated
in the event.

Pearl River's Nodurft will head Mississippi Academy of Sciences

     POPLARVILLE - Pearl River College biology instructor Susan Nodurft has been
elected President of the Mississippi Academy of Sciences (MAS) for the year 2000.
     The MAS is one of the largest and most active state academies in the nation.  Dr.
 Nodurft joined PRCC in 1991 after teaching 12 years at Poplarville High School. She
served as director of the Mississippi Junior Academy of Sciences (MJAS) from 1992 until
1997.  Nodurft has received numerous awards and honors for her teaching, with the most
recent honor being the "Outstanding Contribution to the Teaching of Science Award" in
1998 by the MAS.
     Nodurft said her duties as MAS president would make her responsible for planning
and directing the annual conference set for February 2000. She said noted environmental
author and speaker Dr. David Orr  will be the keynote speaker for the event.
     In addition to teaching, Nodurft has delivered presentations on "connected teaching"
and environmental education at the Mississippi Science Teachers Association, MAS, and
most recently the March National Association for Research in Science (NARST) annual
meeting, held in Boston, Massachusetts.
     Nodurft recently initiated a Faculty Discussion Group at PRCC. The meetings, held
once every other week during lunch, give interested faculty members a forum to discuss
teaching and learning by sharing personal ideas and experiences, and  by exploring
outreach possibilities.  The idea is to allow instructors to "grow" in their profession.
     Instructors interested in attending the meetings can call Dr. Nodurft at 795-1147.

PRCC's Dental program providing services to public

By Rex McAllister
PRCC Journalism student

     POPLARVILLE - Pearl River Community College's Dental program, on the Forrest
County Campus in Hattiesburg, offers many services to the public during the school year.

     According to Program Director Stanley Hill, clinical services offered include head and
neck exams, oral and periodontal exams, radiographs, oral prophylaxis, fluoride treatments,
 sealants, oral hygiene instructions, and non-surgical periodontal therapy.  Students of the
program perform work while supervised by their instructors.
The clinic consists of fourteen operatories for dental hygiene treatment, three intraoral
radiology operatories, and one panoramic machine.
     Copies of exams are provided to the client for use by their professional dentist.
     The PRCC program admitted its first class in the fall of 1992 and was accredited by
the American Dental Association in 1994.  In 1995, the Mississippi Association of Vocational
Education selected it as best technical program.  It received the Public Education Forum
Award for Excellence in 1996 and was recognized by the American Association of
 Community Colleges as an Exemplary Instructional Program.  Admission to the Dental
Hygiene program is selective and competitive.  It is limited to sixteen freshmen each
August, with applications accepted through May 1 of each year.  Selection is based on a
formula with components of ACT score, college GPA, and an interview.
     The program will graduate its sixth class on May 14, bringing the total to 86
graduates. To date, all graduates have passed the National and State Boards.  Several
students have been listed in Who's Who of American Community and Junior Colleges.
PRC is a chapter of Sigma Phi Alpha Dental Hygiene Honor Society.
     Current faculty includes Stanley L. Hill, D.M.D., Program Director; Gina Fitzgerald,
R.D.H., Instructor; and Michele Giles, R.D.H., Instructor.
     The department is dedicated to maintaining close ties to the local dental community
and promoting the traditional role of dental hygiene within the dental profession. The South
Mississippi Dental Society sponsors a $200 scholarship to the outstanding graduating
student.
     Dr. Hill explained that public participation is very important in the program.  In order
for students to get the training that they need, it is necessary to have many patients to work
on, especially in the second semester of the year.
     "The students are well supervised and do quality work for a great price", Hill said.
Cost for treatment is sixteen dollars for adults and twelve dollars for children. Appointment
schedules vary throughout the year.
     The Forrest County Center is located on Highway 49 South in Hattiesburg.  To make
an appointment, call (601) 554-9109.

ACT testing dates set for Pearl River College

     POPLARVILLE - American College Test registration packets are
available in the Pearl River Community College Counseling and
Career Center.
     Dr. Chris Lundy, a PRCC counselor, said the ACT will be given
in the Associate Degree Nursing Building on Saturday, June 12 at 8
a.m. The testing fee is $21.
     Lundy noted that Residual ACT test dates are set for April 23
at 3 p.m., May 21 at 3 p.m., and June 25 at 3 p.m. The cost is $20.
     Students who take the Residual ACT at PRCC may only use their
score at PRCC. Residual ACT score reports may not be sent to other
colleges or universities. Testing will be in the nursing building.

Latest research in brain development will be presented at PRCC April 20

     POPLARVILLE - Information will be distributed about the latest
research in brain development which teaches caregivers how to help
children reach their full potential during a seminar here Tuesday,
April 20.
     Dr. Bitsy Browne-Miller, educator and administrator of the
Hattiesburg Public School System, will present the program called
"A child's growing brain: use it or lose it".
     The event is sponsored by the PRCC Phi Theta Kappa in support
of the 2000 international service project called "The America Reads
Challenge".
     Students and classes with special interest in child growth and
development are urged to attend. The seminar is open to the public.
     Dr. Miller is former president and current advocate of the
Mississippi Childhood Association and is a state instructor for
brain development research.