Clintonians Celebrate Milestones in Education, Athletics, and Careers

Dr. Christopher Brewer, a 2010 graduate of Clinton High School, recently completed his Ph.D. from Kansas State University, studying internet crimes against children (ICAC), cybercrime personnel across the U.S. and their interactions with perpetrators, and victims of online child exploitation.

Brewer is an assistant professor at Illinois State University (ISU) in Bloomington in the Department of Criminal Justice Sciences and teaches cybercrime and research methods. He received his bachelor’s degree in forensic science and his master’s degree in criminal justice, both from The University of Southern Mississippi.

During his time at CHS, Brewer was a member of Attaché Show Choir, a member of the CHS band, and was named Mr. Clinton High School.

For his second year at ISU, he will continue teaching and researching in the areas of cybercrime policing, digilantism, and online extremism, while serving in multiple service roles within his department, the university, and national organizations.

 

Williams of Clinton among Surgical Technology Class of 2023

The Holmes Community College Ridgeland Campus recently held a pinning ceremony for the Surgical Technology Class of 2023. Five students were honored. The graduating class included Kenteria Griffin of Madison, Tiye Strong of Vicksburg, Jasper Warren of Canton, Eurickia Williams of Clinton and Tisha Wilson of Brookhaven.

Williams gave the invocation at the event, which also included guest speaker Dr. Jared Davis, a surgeon at the University of Mississippi Medical Center who is double board certified in general surgery and plastic surgery and specializes in breast reconstruction, body contouring, liposuction and aesthetics.

“I’ve had the opportunity to work with some of you in the past, and I want to say that I think the future of surgery can be and should be very bright,” Davis said. “That is largely due to a lot of people that are here in this room. What we do is very serious. I tend to think of surgery not just as an occupation or a job, but as a calling. In English, those words are very different, but, in German, there is no word for job or occupation; there’s only calling. Your job is your calling.”

“Calling, I think, speaks to purpose,” Davis continued. “It’s that idea of your calling that helps us to get out of bed in the morning, knowing that what we do makes a difference. In the operating room, the calling or purpose that we all share is singular. It’s to take high-quality care of the patient. To do that, it calls for each one of us to be knowledgeable, professional and to communicate effectively with each other. This is something that we have to do sometimes despite long days, being on call, being fatigued, sometimes being sick ourselves or having family members who are sick; but, ultimately, the patient is counting on us.”

Strong was named Dedicated Student of the Year, and Warren was named 2023 Surgical Technology Student of the Year. Warren was also recognized as valedictorian for having the highest GPA in her class, and Williams was named salutatorian for having the second highest.

 

Jensen celebrates at recent HSE ceremony at Hinds

Hinds Community College’s Raymond Campus recently held a graduation ceremony for those earning their High School Equivalency (HSE) certificates. Herman Jensen of Clinton, 18, decided to earn his High School Equivalency certificate through Hinds’ Adult Education program because it was “quicker.” Jensen says he’s headed back to Hinds to study information technology, and he already has a carpentry certificate. Jensen is pictured with his godfather, Tim Taylor.

 

Clinton senior wins bronze and gold at archery competitions

Cammie Kitchens, a senior scholar-athlete at Clinton High School and a former CHS archery team member, recently won the third-place bronze medal in Arizona’s Arizona Cup archery competition. He also took first place with a gold medal in the 2023 Gator Cup held in Newberry, Florida, earlier this summer.

Kitchens and his parents, Sonja and Cammie, flew to Phoenix, Arizona, where he competed in Arizona’s 2023 National Archers Arizona Cup. He competed in the U18 Fixed Pins category with his favorite bow, dubbed “The Bad MOJO.”

Kitchens is a member of the 2023 USA National Archery Team and is currently being coached by USA Archery Level 4 NTS Coach Dennis Adams, owner of the Mississippi Archery Academy. He also plays trombone for the Clinton High School band.

 

Mills takes U.S. Army commission

Isaiah Mills of Clinton (third from left) recently took his U.S. Army commission oath with fellow Mississippi State ROTC cadets (left to right) Alexander C. Gibb of Petal, Jakayla K. Marzittie of Jackson; Isaiah K. Mills and LaNyse D. Gleaton of Courtland. The cadets were commissioned by Maj. Nathaniel A. Rice, also an MSU professor of military science. The cadets’ commission as part of the MSU Bulldog Battalion Cadre signifies the formal beginning of the recent university graduates’ military careers.

 

 

D’Von Dampier of Clinton (left) was among the recent recipients of the Mississippi Trucking Association Foundation Scholarship. The primary objective of the Foundation, a 501(c) (3) charitable corporation designed to receive contributions, memorial gifts, and property, is to promote educational projects related to the trucking industry and provide scholarships to deserving students who have ties to the trucking industry and who are enrolled in scholastic endeavors in the state of Mississippi. Dampier joins over 330 students who have received this scholarship. He is pictured with Mississippi Trucking Association President Hal Miller (right).

 

Ellis inducted into Phi Theta Kappa

Zion Ellis of Clinton was recently inducted into the Alpha Beta Xi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at Hinds Community College’s Utica Campus. New members from Hinds County included (l to r) Makayla Summers of Jackson, Shymaya Dixon of Utica, Jaliyah Currie of Bolton, Shatia Jones of Utica, Aaron Araujo of Jackson, Michael Forbes Jr. of Jackson, Isaac Ratliff of Jackson, Atlantis Funches of Jackson, Zakiyah Thompson of Jackson, Zion Ellis of Clinton and Chasity Woodard of Jackson.

 

Hearst of Clinton receives statewide home care recognition

The Mississippi Association for Home Care (MAHC) recently announced that Tamatha Hearst, RN, of Clinton, has received statewide recognition as the recipient of the J.T. Gilbert Clinical Award.

Hearst has worked with accentCARE’s Clinton office for one year.

Hearst is described by patients as an angel, touching lives while also taking on the role of preceptor and educator to new team members of accentCARE.

The J.T. Gilbert Clinical Award was established in 1991 to honor all professional clinical disciplines that work in the home health field.

The criteria are specific that the individuals nominated must be involved in direct patient care and must demonstrate excellence in the home care field.