Pearl River artists create new Wildcat Coloring Book

An artistic collaboration has allowed Pearl River Community College’s Wildcat Kids Club to inspire little Wildcats to stay creative with a new Wildcat Coloring Book. 

Pearl River Community College recently rejuvenated its Wildcat Kids Club. Membership is free and goes from the time the Little Wildcat is a newborn until eighth grade. The Wildcat Kids Club was created to encourage young Wildcats to strive for success and set big goals. The hope is that the Wildcat Kids Club can instill a culture of Pride, Respect, Class and Character in those Little Wildcats that will stick with them as they grow up maroon and gold.  

As part of the relaunch, the Wildcat Kids Club commissioned a new coloring book to hand out to its members and supporters.

The illustrations were done by PRCC student Skylar Boyd and PRCC Instructor of Art Matthew Gordon. 

“I think it’s important that we do this to show the community that we are involved,” Gordon said. “It’s also important to get the students involved so that they can be a part of something beyond their classes.” 

Gordon received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture from The University of Southern Mississippi and his Master of Fine Arts from Florida State University. He is currently a P.h.D. student in the College of Education at Mississippi State University. Gordon has been teaching various studio art classes for the past 12 years. He currently teaches Art Appreciation and studio art courses including Drawing, Design and Ceramics at PRCC. 

Cartoon art is not the type of art Boyd normally gravitates toward so this was somewhat of a new process for her. 

“It was very different for me,” Boyd said. “I do a lot of realistic portraits and I paint sometimes. I pulled from images I looked up and put things together to create something. It was fun.” 

Boyd graduated from Columbia High School in 2019. She is currently studying Art at PRCC and plans to transfer to the University of Southern Mississippi to major in graphic design. 

Boyd has been creating art ever since she was given finger-paints as a baby. She started taking classes at Bristles Art Studio in second grade and grew up attending art camps in Mississippi and Tennessee. She was the winner of the 2018 and 2019 Congressional Art Competition for her district, which came with the honor of displaying her art work in the United States Capital for the year. 

After the art was created, Assistant Director of Communications for Athletics Mark Franklin and Marketing and Communication Specialist Jacob Cochran compiled them to create the coloring book. 

“I’m very happy we could incorporate the art department,” Franklin said. “Any time we can collaborate with other departments of the college to reach out to the community, it’s a great opportunity. We are very thankful for Matthew and Skylar for their involvement. They did a phenomenal job and we look forward to passing these out to the Little Wildcats in our community.”

Parents or guardians wishing to sign their little Wildcat up for the Wildcat Kids Club can do so by visiting PRCCAthletics.com/Wildcat_Kids_Club.

Member perks include: invitations to free events, a monthly newsletter from Mr. W.C. Rivers about upcoming events, photo opportunities with Mr. W.C. Rivers, athletes and his friends, free admission to certain athletic events, Wildcat birthday greeting, members-only events, special on-field recognitions for academic achievements and meet-n-greets with players.  

For the latest news on Pearl River Community College, visit PRCC.edu and follow us on Twitter (@PRCC_Wildcats)  Instagram](PRCCWILDCATS) and Facebook(@PRCCMKTG).

Pearl River Community College offers equal education and employment opportunities.  The College does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, veteran status, or disability.  For inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies or to request accommodations, special assistance, or alternate format publication please contact Tonia M. Seal, Director of Admissions and Records/ ADA/Civil Rights Coordinator at P.O. Box 5559, Poplarville, MS 39470 or 601-403-1060 or Maghan James, Assistant Vice President of Student Services/Title IX Coordinator at P.O. Box 5805, Poplarville, MS 39470 or 601-403-1132.

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