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Nominees for 2024 Paris Junior College Mr. and Miss PJC include, from left, Jackson Braun, Kate Rainey, Preston Gamster, Kelsey Kovar, Dewitt Brookins, Grace Pippin, Caleb Jameson, Caydence Gonzalez, Casey Reiniche, and Grace Moore. PJC Photo
The 2024 Mr. and Miss Paris Junior College will be announced on Wednesday evening, March 6 during halftime of the 7:30 p.m. men's basketball game against Navarro College in the Hunt Center.
Faculty and staff nominate students for this honor and the student body casts the final vote. To be nominated, students must be graduating sophomores with a minimum of 12 semester hours in the current semester and 45 hours completed, and have at least a 2.75 GPA.
The following exceptional students were nominated for Mr. and Miss PJC: Jackson Braun is a 2022 graduate of Cypress Christian High School in Spring, Texas. He is the son of Tracy and Patrick Braun. He is a returning member of the Baseball Team which won the Regional Championship last year and the national NJCAA Academic Team for Baseball in 2023, and named a 2023 Texas New Mexico Junior College All-Star. He is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the twoyear college honor society, and was named 2023 NJCAA Academic All American Second Team and to the PJC President’s and Dean’s Lists. He will attend James Madison University to play baseball while getting a bachelor’s degree in business and marketing.
Dewitt Brookins is a 2022 graduate of Sulphur Bluff High School in Sulphur Bluff, Texas. He is the son of Shenita Brookins. He is the Student Government Association President, a member of Phi Theta Kappa, and served last year as the African American Student Union President. He has been named to the PJC Dean’s List, and plans to transfer to a four-year university to study neuroscience.
Preston Gamster is a 2022 graduate of Highland Park High School in Dal- las,Texas.Heisthesonof GrantandKikiGamster. Heisareturningmember oftheBaseballTeamwhich wontheRegionalChampionshiplastyearandthe nationalNJCAAAcademic TeamforBaseballin2023. In 2023 he was named TexasNewMexicoJunior CollegeAllStar,Second TeamAllRegionandFirst TeamAllConference.He is a member of Phi ThetaKappa, andwasnamed 2023NJCAAAcademicAll AmericanFirstTeamand tothePJCPresident’sand Dean’sLists.Hewillattend TexasChristianUniversity toplaybaseballandcontinue his education.
Caydence Gonzalez is a 2022graduateofLeeHigh SchoolinMidland,Texas. SheisthedaughterofAnnaLissaandJesusGonzalez.
Sheisareturningmember of the Women’s Soccer Team and a member of PhiThetaKappa.Shewas named2023NJCAAAcademicAllAmerican Third TeamandtothePJCPresident’sandDean’sLists. She planstotransfertoafouryearuniversityand pursue a degree in nursing.
Caleb Jameson is a 2022graduateofPrairiland HighSchoolinPattonville, Texas.HeisthesonofJeff andKatyJameson.Heisa returningmemberofthe BaseballTeamwhichwon theRegionalChampionship lastyearandthenationalNJCAAAcademic TeamforBaseballin2023; hewasnameda2023Texas NewMexicoJuniorCollegeAll- Starand2023All ConferencePitcher.Heisa memberofPhiThetaKap-paandwasnamed2023NJ-CAAAcademicAllAmer-ican First Team and the PJCPresident’sandDean’s Lists.HewillattendBaylor Universitytoplaybaseball whilestudyingkinesiology andexercisesciencetobecomeaphysicaltherapist.
Kelsey Kovar is a 2022 graduate of Thorndale HighSchoolinThorndale, Texasandisthedaughterof JohnandKellyKovar.Sheis areturningmemberofthe SoftballTeamwhichcame inthirdnationallyfor2023 NJCAAAcademicTeam forSoftball.SheisamemberofPhiThetaKappaand StudentGovernmentAssociation, andwasnamed 2023NJCAAAcademicAll AmericanFirstTeam,National FastpitchCoaching AssociationAll-America Scholar-Athleteandtothe PJCPresident’sList.She wasalsonamed2023SecondTeamAllConference andTeamDefensiveMVP. ShewillattendtheUniversityofLouisianaMonroeto playsoftballwhilestudying businessandaccounting. Grace Moore is a 2022 graduate of Paris High SchoolinParis,Texas.She is the daughter of Alicia andKevinMoore.Sheis VicePresidentofService oftheBetaZetaChapter of Phi Theta Kappa and named to the 2024 PTK All-TexasAcademicTeam andthePJCPresident’sList. SheplanstoattendTexas A&MUniversity-TexarkanatomajorinEnglishand minorinInterdisciplinary Studies.Aftergainingher prerequisites,shewillpursue a Master's in Speech LanguagePathologyatTexas Women's University. Grace Pippin is a 2022 graduateofHughesSprings High School in Hughes Spring, Texas and is the daughterofDavidPippin andLesliePippin.Sheisa returningmemberofthe SoftballTeamwhichcame inthirdnationallyfor2023 NJCAAAcademicTeam forSoftball.Sheisamember ofPhiThetaKappaand wasnamed2023NJCAA AcademicAllAmerican Second Team, National FastpitchCoachingAssociation All-AmericaScholar- AthleteandtothePJC Dean’sList.Sheplanstoattendafour- yearuniversity toplaysoftballandpursue a nursing degree.
Kate Rainey is a 2022 graduateofNorthLamar HighSchoolinParis,Texas andisthedaughterofBrianandRuthRainey. Sheis areturningmemberofthe SoftballTeamwhichcame inthirdnationallyfor2023 NJCAAAcademicTeam forSoftball.Sheisamember ofPhiThetaKappaand servesasSophomoreRepresentativefortheStudent GovernmentAssociation. Shewasnamed2023NJCAAAcademicAllAmeri-canSecondTeam, National FastpitchCoachingAssociation All-AmericaScholar- AthleteandtothePJC President’sandDean'sLists. ShewillattendOuachita BaptistUniversitytoplay softballwhilefinishingher kinesiologydegreetobecome apersonaltrainer. CaseyReinicheisa2015 graduateofStrykerHigh SchoolinStryker,Ohioand thesonofAnitaandHarl Piety.HeisPresidentofthe BetaZetaChapterofPhi ThetaKappaandnamed tothe2024PTKAll-Texas AcademicTeamandPJC President’sandDean’sLists, andamemberofthePJC Choir.Heplanstoattend TAMU-CommercetoobtainaBachelor’sofBusiness AdministrationinMarketing.
— Submitted by Margaret Ruff, director of marketing and public relations, Paris Junior College, mruff@parisjc.edu