ะยฒสอ๘

VICKSBURG โ€“ Rodtresse Vaughn is in the 11th grade and already drawing up quite the plan for what heโ€™ll pursue after high school.

Rodtresse Vaughn, a Warren Central High School student dually enrolled at ะยฒสอ๘, checks out information on the college’s programs and advantages during College Carnival held March 22 at the Vicksburg-Warren Campus. (ะยฒสอ๘/April Garon)

โ€œIโ€™m studying animation simulation here,โ€ said Vaughn, among about 500 students from Vicksburg, Warren Central, Porters Chapel and St. Aloysius high schools in attendance for the College Carnival recruiting event March 22 at ะยฒสอ๘ Vicksburg-Warren Campus.

Vaughn was among several high school students at the event who are dually enrolled in college credit courses at ะยฒสอ๘, giving him a leg up on earning his college credentials on the way to building a career. โ€œIโ€™ve always loved drawing cartoons.โ€

Held each spring, the event gives prospective students a chance to find out about admissions, majors, financial aid, registration and more from faculty and staff during the come-and-go event.

Alaina Huskey, a senior at Porters Chapel, did so with advisors with the collegeโ€™s nursing and allied health programs.

โ€œI want to go into neonatal care,โ€ Huskey said. โ€œIโ€™ve grown up around hospitals and healthcare.โ€

From left, Korbin Higginbotham, a senior at Porters Chapel Academy, Tiffany Johnson, a recruiter for nursing and allied health programs at ะยฒสอ๘, and Alaina Huskey, also a senior at Porters Chapel Academy (ะยฒสอ๘/April Garon)

Students heard from college officials and fellow students about the many advantages of starting college at ะยฒสอ๘ before enjoying activities outside the Loviza Building.

โ€œStarting your education here versus a four-year university can save your parents thousands of dollars on your education overall,โ€ said Emily Mitchell, in Recruiting for the college. โ€œYou can get hundreds or even $1,000 just for a good ACT score, but if you donโ€™t apply, you get zero dollars.โ€

Ariana Coleman, studying Business Management Technology, stressed the small class sizes and individual attention students receive at ะยฒสอ๘.

โ€œYou get a lot of one-on-one time with your instructors and all the tools you need to advance in school and in life,โ€ Coleman said.

Candice Moore, a ะยฒสอ๘ student and member of the campus Student Government Association, told students sheโ€™s enjoying the benefits of having started her college life close to home.

โ€œI was in the same position a few years ago as you guys are now,โ€ Moore said. โ€œYou can start here at ะยฒสอ๘, save money and have a great relationships with your teachers.โ€