�� Raymond Campus Preview Day draws crowd

RAYMOND – Faith Taylor wants to pursue her passion in college and at the same time learn how to make money doing it.

“I want to get to know the basics of fashion design, plus learn how to run a business with it and manage my money,” said Taylor, a senior at Northwest Rankin High School, as she spoke with instructors of various programs at �� Raymond Campus on Jan. 31 for Preview Day.

Taylor already has a good guidance counselor in her mother, Marquela, who accompanied her to the annual recruiting event. “Everyone’s helpful here and we’re looking forward to a good two years here,” her mother said.

They were among more than 800 high school seniors and their parents who attended the event at the Mayo Gym. The annual exhibition features all the college’s academic and career-tech programs, activities and organizations Hinds has to offer.

Prospective students from high schools in and around metro Jackson, plus other places in Mississippi, toured the campus and interacted with students and faculty about admissions, scholarships, financial aid, majors, housing, student life and more.

For high schoolers, it’s a time to find out how Hinds’ programs of study can build a successful career. Friends Josh Adams, of Park Place Academy in Pearl, and Mikayla Alford, who is homeschooled, want to study American Sign Language in the college’s Interpreter for the Deaf program.

“Learning any language is a challenge, but once you get locked in, it feels like you’ve always known it,” Adams said. Having family members with hearing challenges forms the basis of Alford’s interest in the topic.

Isaiah Jones, a junior at Velma Jackson High School in Madison County, was most intrigued by Hinds’ varied career and technical education programs, especially those that train students to operate the latest automated equipment and land jobs with high earnings potential.

“I want to do something with autonomous robots here,” Jones said.

Upcoming similar events at Hinds locations include:

Kendall Agricultural Complex, Raymond Campus, Feb. 28, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Ag Expo 2020
Vicksburg-Warren Campus, March 20, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., College Carnival recruiting event
Jackson Campus-Nursing/Allied Health Center, March 5, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Nursing and Allied Health Spring Showcase
Jackson Campus-Academic/Technical Center, April 3, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., College Carnival recruiting event
Utica Campus, April 17, times TBA, Spring Into The U! recruiting event

For more information about these special events, visit .

Faith Taylor, center, a senior at Northwest Rankin High School, checks out the Student Housing table with her mother, Marquela Taylor, during Preview Day at �� on Jan. 31, 2020. (��/April Garon)
Mikayla Alford, left, and Josh Adams, a student at Park Place Academy, speak with Sandra Hester, an instructor in the Interpreter for the Deaf program, during Preview Day at �� on Jan. 31, 2020. With them is Mikayla's mother, Jennifer Alford, center, (��/April Garon)
Chris Woodard, an Automotive Technology instructor, speaks with Isaiah Jones, a junior at Velma Jackson High School in Madison County, during Preview Day at �� Raymond Campus on Jan. 31, 2020. (��/ April Garon)
Searra Odom, center, and Lauren Brown, both students at Warren Central High School, chat with Sylvia West, of the Student Housing and Residence Halls, during Preview Day at �� on Jan. 31, 2020. (��/April Garon)
Kelsey Oliver, a student at Provine High School, and her mother, Mattie Oliver, center, chat with Nancy Allen, a Criminal Justice instructor, during Preview Day at �� on Jan. 31, 2020. (��/April Garon)
Caleb Diggs, center foreground, and Marcus Shoulders, both students at Raymond High School, check out equipment on display at the Electrical Technology table with Timothy White, Electrical Technology instructor, during Preview Day at �� on Jan. 31, 2020. (��/April Garon)
Myesha Nealon, a student at Greenville High School, talks with Norman Trimble, Machine Tool Technology instructor, during Preview Day at �� on Jan. 31, 2020. (��/April Garon)
Cardell Gibbs, a student at ��, takes instruction from Brad McCullouch, director of Commercial Aviation programs, at the controls of a flight simulator during Preview Day at �� on Jan. 31, 2020. (��/April Garon)