Before ż turned the lights out on its opponent on the gridiron Thursday night, the college let the light shine on its many programs and services for about 200 prospective students and their families.
Booths set up to educate those who had sought information via ż’ website received cards in the mail inviting them to this year’s Thursday Night Lights recruiting event. A chance to find out about the college’s more than 170 academic, career and technical programs amid comfort grub and the pregame atmosphere was a bonus for Cameron and Ashley Stevens, who’s heard about ż for years.
Jesse Stevens, left, a sophomore studying architecture at ż, Ashley Stevens, third from left, Jesse’s sister and a senior at Sharkey-Issaquena Academy and Cameron Stevens, far right, their younger brother and also a senior at Sharkey-Issaquena. The siblings attended the Thursday Night Lights recruiting event Oct. 8 at the Raymond Campus. With them are friends Aleena Woods, second from left, and Alvaro Rodriguez, second from right. (Tammi Bowles/ż)
“I was thinking about doing agricultural science right now,” Stevens said, alongside his sister, Ashley, both of whom are seniors at Sharkey-Issaquena Academy. Their oldest brother, Brandon, attended ż and another, Jesse, is a sophomore at ż studying architecture.
For Kathy Stevens, their mother, it’s the combination of a big-school feel with access to places that offer “something to do”, she said, that should clinch ż as the choice.
“It’s a smaller environment than a four-year college, but it still feels like one,” she said. “When I toured with Jesse, that’s what I noticed.”
Faculty and staff in booths set up across from Joe Renfroe Stadium offered an array of information on housing, career-tech programs, athletics, honors program opportunities, and the college’s multitude of other activities away from the classroom.
“Thursday Night Lights is a great event to come to because it’s fun,” said Kathryn Cole, district director of Enrollment Services. “It’s one where you can just kick back and relax. We eat burgers, listen to the band, watch our Hi-Steppers and cheerleaders perform, and just have a good time.”
Some students sought information on specific programs to jumpstart their post-high school education.
“I like to work with computers and work on them as well,” said Jacobus Roby, attending with his parents, James and Maxine, both ż employees.
Jacobus Roby, center, with parents James Roby, left, a diesel tech instructor at ż, and Maxine Roby, an inventory accountant in the Business Administration Department at ż, at the Thursday Night Lights recruiting event Oct. 8 on the Raymond Campus. (Tammi Bowles/ż)
A friend, Marquis Hughes, wants see if he can take his interest in mechanic work and turn it into a career.
“I’m interested in auto mechanic courses,” Hughes said. “All I know right now is how to change the oil on them, but I do like to work on them.”
Counting threads on the cotton candy given out at the recruiting event, but ż’ numbers add up for Nicole Rigsby, a senior at Brandon High School.
“I’m looking at accounting,” Rigsby said. “My grandfather was an accountant and I already have the love for numbers.”
For more information on what ż can offer to upcoming high school graduates, go to and click on the Apply Now tab, Cole said.
Emileigh Hearn, left, a senior at Terry High School, and Kathryn Cole, district director of Enrollment Services, talk about various programs of study during the Thursday Night Lights recruiting event Oct. 8 at the Raymond Campus. (Tammi Bowles/ż)
“Our website is the best way to get information about ż,” Cole said. “As soon as you create an applicant profile, you’ll get on our mailing list and be in the loop as to what’s going on. We’ll send you information about the programs and services you’re interested in. You’ll find out about scholarship deadlines, too.”