Jackson Academy Head of School Jack Milne (right, seated) and Belhaven University President Dr. Roger Parrott (seated) signed documents beginning a dual enrollment program. Joining the school leaders were (from left) Belhaven University’s Dean of Center for Teaching and Learning Dr. Kimberly Priesmeyer, Director of Dual Enrollment Danny Shaw, and Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing Dr. Kevin Russell, and Jackson Academy’s Head of Upper School Steve McCartney and Associate Head of School Matt Morgan.

Students at Jackson Academy will now be able to take dual enrollment classes in language arts and math through Belhaven University. JA and Belhaven officials signed an agreement April 29 at the Belhaven campus.

Dual enrollment allows high school students who meet a college’s admissions requirements to take college classes for credit while completing high school. JA seniors, as well as some juniors, will have opportunities to take English Composition I, World Literature or British Literature, College Algebra, and Trigonometry.

“We have been exploring dual enrollment partnerships for some time, and once we began a dialogue with Belhaven University last fall we quickly recognized the dual enrollment arrangement discussed was the right fit for our students,” said Associate Head of School Matt Morgan.

“We’re thrilled to deepen our relationship with Jackson Academy,” said Belhaven University President Dr. Roger Parrott. “This partnership is a natural between two like-minded academic institutions that put faith and family first. Jackson Academy is known for its quality in college preparation, and Belhaven University can give JA students a continued push toward excellence in their pursuit of higher education.”

“Students who participate in dual enrollment will apply and meet college admission requirements, enroll as Belhaven students, and receive access to our library, events and arts programs, and the Think Center, which offers subject area tutoring,” said Belhaven University Director of Dual Enrollment Danny Shaw. Admitted students will participate in a summer orientation and campus tour. Courses for college credit will be taken on the Jackson Academy campus and will be taught by JA faculty whose degrees qualify them to teach at the college level. The university has worked with JA to credential faculty and make sure the curriculum meets all Belhaven requirements.

Officials indicated that the agreement is possibly just the beginning. Other course offerings and opportunities on the Belhaven campus are being discussed for the future.

“We are continually seeking ways to create opportunities for our students to fulfill their God-given potential, be prepared for the college years, and ultimately be adults who will live lives of purpose and significance,” said JA Head of School Jack Milne. “Dual enrollment with Belhaven University is an excellent way for our students to begin their college experience and prepare for the next step in their lives.”

Mississippi College has selected Avery and Erin Hederman as members of the college’s first Honors College class beginning this fall. They will be among 14 students who will work with MC President Dr. Blake Thompson to build the program at MC. The inaugural Honors College members will weigh in on curriculum, student selection process, and honors housing, for example, and will help decide what is best for the MC program. The students will travel to visit other honors colleges as they work to develop the program.

It was through the college’s scholarship process that the girls were tapped as potential members of the budding Honors College concept. Students who score 29 and above on the ACT are invited by MC to participate in Presidential Scholarship interviews. The Presidential Scholarship process requires an essay, introduction video submission, resume, transcript, and interview weekend, explained Avery.

“About a month or so after the interview process, Director of Freshman Recruitment Michael Wright, Director of Admissions Kyle Brantley, and President Dr. Blake Thompson came to visit us.  They wanted to share some news in person and invited our parents and grandparents to be there, as well,” Erin said. “Since Dr. Thompson’s arrival at MC, he has had a vision for the school to establish its first Honors College.”

The college leaders invited Avery and Erin to be a part of the inaugural class of Honor Students. “We will be able to travel abroad as an Honors College cohort and have expansive experiential learning opportunities within our field of study. We will have many missions opportunities as well. The Honors College will provide a way for us to represent the university in recruitment and donor functions, and we will help grow this program through these,” said Erin.

Avery and Erin were invited to Dr. Thompson’s inauguration March 29. The MC Honors College was announced, and the Honors College members were introduced during the ceremony.

The opportunities at Mississippi College offer the two JA students ways to build upon their academic and extracurricular accomplishments at JA, including playing soccer for the Choctaws. “Being involved in the Honors College at MC will allow us to form relationships with people who we may not have met otherwise. We will have the opportunity to serve Mississippi College and leave our own mark,” said Avery. “Through the Honors College, we will be pushed and surrounded by people who want us to succeed and to be our best selves.”

Lucy Clement, Anne “Kit” McCormack, and David “Burkette” Moulder III have been recognized as Semifinalists in the 2019 National Merit Scholarship Program. A challenging academic curriculum and numerous opportunities to engage in extracurricular activities related to their interests have empowered these talented students. The support and engagement fostered by their families, and JA’s faculty and staff, propelled them to achieve beyond their own expectations.

Clement, McCormack, and Moulder were among more than 1.6 million juniors across the nation who took the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test during the fall of 2017. After that initial screening, these students partnered with Jackson Academy and completed detailed scholarship applications with information about their academics, activities in the school and community involvement, leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. Each year, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation recognizes approximately 16,000 semifinalists. These students now qualify to continue in the competition for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $31 million to be offered next spring.

Lucy Clement

What activities are you involved in?

I am a dance captain for Encore (our high school show choir), I tutor JA students, compete in academic competitions, and participate as a member of set crew in school theatre productions. I also serve as co-president of the Latin club and as a member of JA’s new Honor Council. I’ve been able to be involved in is the Duke TIP Summer Studies program. For three summers I was able to go to Duke University for 3 weeks and not only take a class that was incredibly fun and engaging, but also meet so many awesome people that I’m still friends with today.

How has JA helped prepare you for academic success?

JA is big enough that you have the opportunity to take the most challenging and rigorous classes but small enough that classes are never too crowded and your teachers are able to get to know you. This balance helps make all of our classes much more interactive & personal and has allowed me to develop my interests and talents.

What classes are you taking this year?

AP Calculus, Latin IV, Honors Psychology, AP Literature, AP Government/Economics, and Encore.

Which has been your favorite class and why?

I really enjoyed AP Government with Mrs. Ball and AP Literature with Mr. Dickson. In both classes we get to cover really cool material that’s easy to get interested in and excited about, and Mrs. Ball and Mr. Dickson both go out of their way to get our ideas, opinions, and thoughts on whatever topic we’re covering.

What are some of your favorite memories from your time at JA?

Some stand-out memories are Encore’s trip to Waffle House last year after winning Grand Champion at the Jackson Prep show choir competition, going to Dramafest at MSU with the one-act play, our field trip to the WWII museum where Mrs. Ball single-handedly forced open the elevator doors for our group, and watching the fireworks on the last night of Encore’s trip to Disney World.

Anne “Kit” McCormack

What activities are you involved in?

I am a member of the varsity cheerleading team and the outdoor club. I give tumbling lessons to little girls which is really fun, and I also lead a D-Group at Christ United Methodist Church on Wednesdays – that’s my favorite thing.

How has JA helped prepare you for academic success?

I’ve been at JA my whole life, so I really owe all of my academic success to JA, and my parents of course. It has taught me how to be a functioning, responsible student. I feel like I know how to manage my time and responsibilities on my own and get stuff done when I need to because of this school.

What classes are you taking this year?

AP Calculus, AP Chemistry, Government, World Literature, Psychology/Sociology, and Current Events

Which has been your favorite class and why?

I have had so many amazing teachers over the last few years that I really don’t think I can pick a favorite class. To me, the amount I enjoy the class comes from whether or not the teacher connects with the students. Even if the class is hard, which most of mine are, if I feel like the teacher cares about me personally, I usually enjoy the class. This has been the case in basically every class in my high school career.

What are some of your favorite memories from your time at JA?

Mr. Dickson’s literature class was definitely one of the most memorable classes I have taken, overall. I have been here for fifteen years now, so it’s hard to pick just one memory. I’m pretty sure I’ve spent nearly as many hours here as I have at my own house, so I’m very comfortable here and with all the people.

David “Burkette” Moulder III

What activities are you involved with at JA?

I am in Encore, run cross country, participate in ultimate frisbee, and compete in Quizbowl.

How has JA helped prepare you for academic success?

The teachers at JA have challenged me and helped me to become a better thinker, but they have also shown over and over that they care about me and what is best for me.

What classes are you taking this year?

Introduction to Engineering, Theatre Tech, AP Calculus, AP Literature, AP Government, Encore, and AP Physics C

Which has been your favorite class and why?

AP Physics and AP Language/AP Literature  are tied for my favorite class. As different as these two subjects may seem, the reason I like them so much is the same: they have challenged me to think for myself and developed me into a more complex and developed thinker.

What are some of your favorite memories from your time at JA?

I can’t say that I really have a favorite memory at JA. Every day at JA that I get to spend with my teachers and friends is so unique and rewarding that it makes it impossible to really nail down a few memories as my “favorite.”

New tuition exchange and scholarship agreements between Jackson Academy and three area colleges and universities will provide Jackson Academy students and full-time faculty and staff dependents more affordable access to independent higher education.

Officials at Belhaven University, Millsaps College, and Mississippi College have each signed agreements offering tuition remission discounts for undergraduate degrees to JA students who meet admission requirements. Millsaps College has also offered a discount for its graduate business degrees, including the Master of Business Administration, the Master of Accountancy, and the Executive MBA. Full time JA employees, parents of current JA students, and JA alumni can receive graduate programs discounts.

In exchange, Jackson Academy will offer a discount to the dependents of all full time faculty and staff of these three educational institutions when those dependents meet JA’s normal admissions requirements.

“We are delighted to have entered into these reciprocal agreements with Millsaps College, Mississippi College, and Belhaven University that make obtaining an education at these fine institutions more accessible for our graduates and children of faculty and staff, and which will in turn encourage faculty and staff at those institutions to strongly consider sending their children to Jackson Academy,” said JA Head of School Jack Milne.

General points about the programs:

• The Tuition Exchange Program is open to all JA students who qualify for admission at the institution of higher education.
• The Tuition Exchange Program is open to dependents (as determined by the IRS) of full time faculty and staff of the participating institutions who qualify for admission.
• There is no waiting period to participate.
• The Tuition Exchange Program applies to undergraduate students for the participating independent colleges, with the exception of the Millsaps graduate programs. The agreement is for Belhaven’s traditional program only.
• Other details specific to the institutions may apply.

For more information, contact:

• JA graduating seniors
  Contact Amy Bush at abush@jacksonacademy.org
• Prospective JA students
  Contact JA Admissions at admissions@jacksonacademy.org
• Fulltime JA Faculty and staff dependents
  Contact the admission office of the college