April 4, 2023

Ten students enrolled in East Mississippi Community College’s Marketing Technology program on the Scooba campus recently traveled to Washington, D.C., where they toured national monuments and spoke with federal officials about future job opportunities and federal funding for noncredit workforce programs. They also visited New York City.

“Trips like these are an important means of exposing students to real-world experiences that can’t be learned in a classroom,” Marketing Technology instructor Dr. Joshua Carroll said.

The trip began March 19 and ran through March 25. During the trip to the nation’s capital the students visited the offices of U.S. Reps. Bennie Thompson, Michael Guest, Trent Kelly and Mike Ezell, as well as that of U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, all of whom represent the state of Mississippi.

Carroll said Thompson’s office gave the students a copy of House Resolution 793: Jobs Act of 2023, which was referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce in February. The students shared copies of the bill with the offices of the other legislators they met with, expressing support for the bill. If enacted, the bill would extend Pell Grant funding to certain noncredit, short-term workforce educational programs in career and technical fields such as welding and truck driving.

“This legislation could change the scope of jobs across the country,” Carroll said. “The students learned first-hand the importance of meeting with members of Congress to support the future of American businesses.”

While in D.C., the students were provided information about potential careers with the FBI and available Congressional internships.

“I saw job opportunities that I did not even know existed,” Marketing Technology student Elijah Jackson of Preston said. “I really enjoyed the FBI tour. They showed us a lot of what they do on a day-to-day basis and talked about a career path with their agency that I could always take if I decide to go that route.” 

Meridian resident Xavier Jimerson, who is also in the Marketing Technology program, said he will likely apply for one of the Congressional internships after he graduates from EMCC.

“I could see myself doing that in the future,” Jimerson said. “I am good with people and I feel like that is something I would enjoy.”

The students also toured Arlington National Cemetery, the U.S. Capitol, the U.S. Supreme Court Building and The FBI Experience, which features interactive multimedia exhibits and artifacts on the nation’s federal law enforcement agency. They also toured D.C.’s national monuments and the facilities of the NBA’s Washington Wizards, while additionally taking in the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which was under way.

The final leg of the tour culminated with an Amtrak train ride to New York City, where the students visited Times Square, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, the museum at The Battery, the 9/11 Memorial, and the Charging Bull, or Bull of Wall Street, bronze sculpture.

“The trip was great,” Jimerson said. “It was fun but we learned a lot of things too.”

The Marketing Technology program at EMCC is offered on the college’s Scooba and Golden Triangle campuses. Learn more here: http://bit.ly/3vdPOKu