In this episode of the Bank First Ranger Hour, host Gary Darby welcomes Sabria Jackson, a recent Northwest Mississippi Community College graduate and summer orientation leader. A native of Olive Branch, Sabria reflects on her journey from initially resisting Northwest to ultimately embracing the college as her academic home. She discusses her experiences in the engineering program, how affordability and Phi Theta Kappa membership helped her succeed, and her next steps pursuing biomedical engineering at the University of Memphis. Sabria offers insights into the importance of campus involvement, small class sizes, and personalized support that shaped her experience and success at Northwest.

Later in the show, Kelsey Baker, Career and Technical Education Counselor at Northwest’s DeSoto Center, shares updates on the Commercial Truck Driving (CDL) program, offered in both Olive Branch and Batesville. Baker details the program structure, financial aid options, simulator training, and requirements for enrollment, including the DOT physical and permit. She also introduces a brand-new Commercial Electrical Technology program launching this fall at the DeSoto Campus, which has already filled its inaugural cohort. Both programs reflect Northwest’s ongoing commitment to workforce development and career-ready training across North Mississippi.

The episode wraps up with announcements about upcoming events, including the Two Plus Two Scholarship Golf Tournament on September 16 at Cherokee Valley Golf Club in Olive Branch, which has raised over $731,000 for student scholarships, and a reminder about youth and elite basketball camps hosted by new men’s basketball coach John Redman.

Keywords: Northwest Mississippi Community College, Sabria Jackson, engineering program NWCC, biomedical engineering, University of Memphis transfer, Phi Theta Kappa scholarships, student success, campus involvement, Kelsey Baker, CDL program NWCC, commercial truck driving Northwest, Olive Branch CDL, Batesville CDL, Commercial Electrical Technology program, workforce training Mississippi, DeSoto Center NWCC, two plus two scholarship golf tournament, Cherokee Valley Golf Club, John Redman basketball camps, NWCC athletics, northwestms.edu, nwccrangers.com.