The Medallion, an annual publication of The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) Honors College, has earned first place in the National Collegiate Honors Council’s (NCHC) Faculty/Administrator/Student Print Newsletter category of its Honors Publications Contest.
Jessie James-Prince, a Southern Miss graduate who serves as Honors Academic Advisor and Coordinator of Honors Living Learning Programs, is the primary creator and editor of The Medallion. Kelli Sellers and Helen Greene, members of the Honors College team, will attend the NCHC conference in Kansas City, Mo., later this month to accept the award.
“Receiving this award was such an exciting surprise,” James-Prince said. “I submitted the final draft of The Medallion the day before I had my daughter back in March, three months earlier than I normally submit it, so when I got the text that this year’s issue was chosen, I was just so proud of everyone’s help in making it such a success.
“The team that I am a part of here at the Honors College is so special,” James-Prince continued. “We love to collaborate on events, projects and programs for the students, and we tend to turn any assignment into a group assignment and that’s what makes us so great. This year’s publication is the best example of our collaborative work because, while I am the editor and come up with the theme and direction for each piece, everyone contributes in some way.”
The Medallion launched in 2016 and is sent to all Honors College students and alumni each summer.
“I think The Medallion is such a great example of our efforts because since my first issue, I’ve tried to highlight everything that makes our community so unique,” James-Prince said in reflecting on her vision for the publication. “Whether the students are on an active learning trip, presenting their research at conferences, studying abroad or even playing football at The Rock on Saturdays, my goal is for our students to know how proud we are of them, and that they matter to not only their friends and families who will see the issue but all the Honors Scholars who were here before them.
“It excites me to get to show Honors College alumni what exciting things our students are doing. I hope when our alumni receive their issues in the mail, they see something that sparks a memory of their time as a student.”
The Southern Miss Honors College is currently celebrating the 50th anniversary of its popular University Forum program, and next year will also celebrate a half century as one of the first academic entities of its kind in the nation.
“I am so excited about next year’s issue that I’ve already jumped ahead to begin planning it,” James-Prince explained. “My goal is to make that issue a throwback issue, where we highlight each decade of the Honors College. With the help of alumni and University archives, I hope to create a yearbook-style spread where we can see what the Honors College has accomplished in its 50 years, along with the impact it has made on its students.”
James-Prince also credited her Honors College colleagues for “helping bring the vision for The Medallion to life” with their contributions.
“Jessie has such an amazing eye for details, and her roles as an academic advisor and the coordinator of our living learning community mean she constantly reflects on how to best represent our students, faculty, and alumni and the good work they are doing in the world,” said Dr. Joyce Inman, Dean of the Honors College. “She focuses on how to create community, and The Medallionis a wonderful example of how she works with our team and various Southern Miss communities associated with the Honors College to provide snapshots of our scholars and their dedication to taking their education to the next level. Our whole team contributes to this publication, and I know they appreciate Jessie and are excited to see their work recognized.”
