Camden native Maggie Jones-May is a new political science instructor at South Georgia State College (SGSC).
SGSC Division of Business and Social Sciences Chair Dale Hartle made the announcement recently to the business and social sciences faculty.
“Maggie is an asset to the division ... in that she is qualified to teach both political science and criminal justice,” Hartley said. “As a newcomer, she will also be an asset to the Waycross (Ga.) community.”
Jones-May earned bachelor’s degrees in political science and mass communication from Francis Marion University in 2009. She earned dual master’s degrees in political science and criminal justice from Appalachian State University in 2014.
She was a guest lecturer on two occasions during her time at Appalachian State, where Jones-May also worked as a graduate and research assistant. She has published multiple papers and is a member of the N.C. Criminal Justice Association. She also served in the S.C. Army National Guard while she pursued her graduate work.
Jones-May is teaching political science classes on SGSC’s Waycross campus this spring. She said she has received a warm welcome to south Georgia and her classes are going well.
“I love it,” Jones-May said. “The faculty has welcomed me with open arms, and I feel right at home. My students have been excited about the topics we’ve discussed in class, which makes my job easier.”
She said the diversity in her classes -- both in background and point of view -- has also contributed to her classroom experience.
“The diversity of opinions and backgrounds has provided a well-rounded view in my classes. That has helped greatly with class discussions,” Jones-May said.
She and her husband, Danny, an Army Ranger infantry officer, are stationed at Fort Benning, Ga., and are currently relocating to south Georgia.
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A total of 455 students marched in Coastal Carolina University’s fall commencement ceremony Dec. 13, the largest group to participate in December graduation exercises at CCU. Approximately 590 total candidates were eligible to receive degrees.
Commencement speaker Edgar L. Dyer, longtime CCU professor and administrator, spoke about the importance of universal public education in the advancement of free and civil societies.
Among those graduating in December:
Alex Heiselt of Cassatt -- Bachelor of Science in Biology;
Matthew Wilks of Elgin -- Bachelor of Arts in English; and Rashawn Williams of Cassatt -- Master of Business Administration in Business Administration.
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Lauren A. Burr of Lugoff has been named to the Dean’s List at Piedmont College after completing the recent fall semester with a grade-point average of 3.55 to 3.99.
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The following students from Lugoff have been named to the Fall 2014 Dean’s List at USC Sumter:
Jordan Ard, Sarah Catoe, Thomas Kull and Breanna Mackey.
To be named to the Dean’s Honor List, a student must achieve a grade point average of 3.50 or higher (3.25 or higher for freshmen) earned on a minimum of 12 credited semester hours at the end of the previous semester.
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Lauren Ramold, of Lugoff, was among more than 20 students who made the President’s List in the Fall 2014 semester. To reach this academic achievement, students must maintain a grade point average of 3.95-4.00 earned on a minimum of 12 credited semester hours at the end of the previous semester.
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Trevon Hall, of Bethune, was recently named to the Lone Star Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll of student athletes for the Fall 2014-15 semester. Hall is a student at Eastern New Mexico University.
To be eligible for the honor roll, a student athlete needed a minimum grade-point average of 3.3 and to be on the current roster.
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Cameron Neal Messinides, of Camden, son of Michael Messinides and Kimberly Clark, and a graduating senior at the S.C. Governor’s School for the Arts & Humanities, is one of more than 3,900 candidates in the 2015 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.
A distinguished panel of educators will review candidates’ nominations and select 560 semi-finalists in early April. The Commission on Presidential Scholars will make the final selection of scholars. The commission will choose one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and students living abroad; 15 students at-large; and up to 20 students from the creative and performing arts. The U.S. Department of Education will announce the final scholars in May.
If chosen, Messinides -- a member of the 2014 class of National Poets -- would be invited to Washington, D.C., for several days in June to receive the Presidential Scholars Medallion during a recognition ceremony and participate in other events and activities.
