News

Participants of last year’s Wharton County Junior College summer volleyball camp work on their skills at the Gene Bahnsen Gymnasium in Wharton. WCJC’s volleyball and baseball programs will sponsor summer camps again this year.

Wharton County Junior College dual credit student Landynn Tompkins will graduate from high school this month with a diploma under the Texas First Program. The state program enables high school students to graduate early and to qualify for a one-year scholarship to their university of choice.

Wharton County Junior College recently hosted a Law Day event at the Richmond campus. During the event, two students were inducted into the Lambda Epsilon Chi legal honor society. From left are Cade Meyer of Needville, WCJC Paralegal Studies Program Director Dr. Erma Hart and Jennifer Umali of Richmond.

Wharton County Junior College held its 79th annual commencement exercises on May 9 and May 10 at the Gene Bahnsen Gymnasium in Wharton. A record 335 graduates participated.

A pinning ceremony was held recently for students earning their Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing from Wharton County Junior College. Graduates pictured, front row, left to right, are Kaleigh Montalvo of El Campo, Amanali Noorrani of Richmond, Michala Sulak of Louise, Samantha Salgado of El Campo, Briana Rodriquez of Beasly, Andrea Benavidez of El Campo, Brynnan Bostick of Richmond, Maria Arizpe of Garwood, Paula Scott of Ganado, Shanequa Clark of Richmond and Elta Florestant Chery of Houston. Middle row, left to right, are Chrissy Broman of El Campo, Ashley Velazquez of El Campo, Eseroghene Akpejunor of Sugar Land, Camille Boado of Katy, Hajira Karim of Katy, Gigi Martinez of Bay City, Joneisha Graves of El Campo, Skylar Payne of Bay City, Ashlynn McCubbin of Richmond, Stephanie Mejia of Houston and Sophia Garza of El Campo. Back row, left to right, are Joshua Casilang of Sugar Land, Jacques Jackson of Wharton, Jacob Escobedo of Simonton, Coral Becerra Dominquez of Sealy, Adriana Veitch of West Point, Karla Hinojosa of Rosenberg, Leceia Johnson of Houston, Lauryn Ellis of Bay City, Emily Simper of Wharton, Lance Rodriquez of McKinney and Jerry Villarreal of Wharton. Not pictured is Sandeep Kaur of Sugar Land.

Sixteen students recently earned their Associate of Applied Science Degree in Dental Hygiene from Wharton County Junior College. Front row, left to right, are Andrea Jimenez-Solano (Alvin), Kathlyn Grace DeMeza (Missouri City), Jaquelyn Ceballos (Garwood), Nandini Patel (Houston), Amy Vestal (Bay City), Andrea Orozco (Katy), Anna DeCoste (Katy) and Jessica Saldierna (Rosenberg). Second row, left to right, are Erin Kamont (Brookshire), McKenna Maurer (Caldwell), Katelynn Gabrysch (Inez), Carly Merritt (Katy), Breanna Jimenez (Rosenberg), Jaime Enriquez (El Campo), Brooklynn Pate (West Columbia) and Alexis Presley (West Columbia).

Three members of the Wharton County Junior College Pioneers baseball team were recently recognized for their athletic and academic achievement. From left are David Bell of Evans, Ga., this year's Johnnie Frankie Award recipient; Aidan Goude of Cypress, named the Most Outstanding Student in Kinesiology; and Harrison Wall of Mount Pleasant, winner of the Dr. Ty Pate Academic Award.

Wharton County Junior College Rodeo Team members Thomas Willard of Caldwell and Amy Ohrt of Victoria have qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo, scheduled for June 15-21 in Casper, Wyo.

Through the BioNetworks Research Experiences for Undergrads (REU) program, WCJC students Keemia Aria and Cesar Flores will spend more than two months on research projects involving developmental biology and gene networks under Rice University professors.

Wharton County Junior College students recently received outstanding achievement awards in seven fields of study: Allied Health, Communication and Fine Arts, Life Sciences, Math and Physical Sciences, Social and Behavior Sciences, Technology and Business, and Vocational Sciences.

Wharton County Junior College Welding Technology students learn a host of essential welding skills that can be applied to gainful employment in a variety of industries.

Wharton County Junior College Choir Director Dr. Karl Paoletti leads a rehearsal for the upcoming concert, "The Joint is Jumpin." Students, from left, are Spencer Cole of Needville, Richard Kight of El Campo, Elaina Light of Sugar Land and Riley Henderson of Wharton.