BAY SPRINGS — The Jasper County Board of Supervisors and Jones County Junior College officials unveiled a historic opportunity designed to assist high school graduates in furthering their education.

For the first time in JCJC history, a county board of supervisors has entered into partnership with the junior college to offer every graduating high school senior in Jasper County the opportunity to attend JCJC.

JCJC President Dr. Jesse Smith announced Monday the Jasper County Board of Supervisors are investing in the county’s future by offering students tuition-free enrollment.

Among those taking part in the historical announcement — which was held at the Bay Springs City Hall in conjunction with the Bay Springs Rotary Club meeting — were Jasper County Supervisors, state and elected officials from cities in Jasper County, school superintendents from all of the Jasper County schools, along with principals and student representatives, JCJC administrators and trustees, select community/business officials and Rotary Club members.

Because of the Board of Supervisors’ investment, every high school senior in Jasper County will have the opportunity to attend college.

The new tuition guarantee program begins with the high school graduates of the class of 2010.

Students from Bay Springs High School, Heidelberg High School, Stringer Attendance Center, Heidelberg Academy and Sylva Bay Academy are all eligible.

Smith said to be eligible for the program, students must submit a JCJC general admissions application and a federal financial aid (FAFSA) application by May 1, 2010. He said the various scholarships offered to students would also be honored.

However, students must maintain a grade point average of 2.5 to keep the tuition scholarship, which is limited to five semesters.

Jasper County Beat Five Supervisor Curtis Gray, vice president of the board, said the supervisors decreased their individual budgets by 10 percent and also asked each county department to decrease their budget by 10 percent to help fund the new initiative.

“We did what we thought was right for our young people,” Gray said. “It’s a way of investing in our young people’s future.”

Beat Three Supervisor Lonnie Thigpen agreed.

“This is something we really believe in,” he said. “We have people every day looking for a job. With this program, we hope it will improve the job market and the number of trained/qualified workers in Jasper County. ...This will help us to employ local people.”

Beat Four Supervisor Johnny Rowell, president of the board, said the supervisors “are putting our money where our mouth is. We are concerned about the young people, so we are doing something to make a difference.”

Officials applauded the board of supervisors for their efforts.

“Jasper County leadership has put a college education within the reach of every graduating senior,” said JCJC Academic Dean Dr. Shannon Campbell. “This is a tremendous step toward the future success of the district. Our short-term and long-term objectives as a college focus on providing convenient and accessible solutions to our students.”

Jalesa Bender of Rose Hill, a senior at Heidelberg High School, and all of the seniors attending the event were excited about the new program.

“It’s a great opportunity,” Bender said. “It allows students to attend college free. It’s a great thing for a lot of people.”

Mackenzie McAlpin, a senior at Stringer Attendance Center, agreed.

“It’s a great thing because it will help students get in college and also encourage them to keep up their GPA,” McAlpin said. “It also helps families that can’t financially afford to send a child to college.”

East Jasper School Superintendent Dr. Gwendolyn Page concurred.

“I’m delighted that our Board of Supervisors and Jones County Junior College continue to believe in our children and value equality,” Page said. “They are making efforts to help our young people continue their education.”

James Gilbert, principal at Stringer Attendance Center and a graduate of JCJC, praised officials for the initiative.

“It’s outstanding,” Gilbert said. “It gives the students an opportunity to go to college and also relieves families of the stress of how they are going to pay for college.”

Over the past year, Smith said, JCJC officials have worked to increase support services and visibility of the college in Jasper County, and it’s paying off.

Smith said this fall, Jasper County enrollment numbers at JCJC increased 18 percent from the fall of 2008.

Campbell credits the Jasper County Learning Center, online college courses and college recruiting efforts for impacting the enrollment increase.

Smith said county officials’ investment in education will enhance the county’s future.

“It will have a positive and direct impact on the economy,” he said. “The more educated you get, the more dollars a person is able to earn.”

JCJC is one of the 15 two-year colleges in Mississippi.

Marlo Dorsey, JCJC vice president of marketing, said several counties in 2008 passed tuition guarantee programs across the sate.

Jasper County is the first county in the JCJC eight-county district to create the program.

“There’s never been a better or easier time in our history for people to get an education,” Smith said. “This program comes from the leadership of your board of supervisors. ...They want to invest in the future.”

Dorsey said additional details on the Jasper County tuition guarantee program will be made available this fall on JCJC’s website, www.jcjc.edu.