Photo submitted by Kim Benson

One hundred percent of the students in Jackson State’s Radiologic Technology Program passed their national certification exam on the first attempt for the fifth year in a row.

Jackson State has now graduated 101 students from the program in 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016. All students passed the national certification exam offered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (AART) on their first attempt just six months after completing the program.

“It’s a collaborative effort between the students and faculty and the clinical instructors and staff at the hospitals,” said Kim Benson, Program Director and Associate Professor for Radiologic Technology. “We put in so many hours to make sure the students are provided with every opportunity to succeed. It’s the hard work and dedication of the students, and it’s the effort by their support team.

According to Benson, the pandemic created significant challenges in 2020. “It was necessary for students and faculty to transfer to an online format, and clinical rotations were halted for several months in the spring term,” she said. “Even in the face of adversity, the RADT Class of 2020 successfully completed their program and excelled on their credentialing exam.”

JSCC RADT students have scored 100% on first attempt on the national certification exam 9 out of 12 years. Benson said this is what they strive for every year. “It says to prospective students that the program is doing what it is designed to do. It is teaching you the skills you need to become an entry-level radiographer.”

In addition to the credentialing exam pass rates, other benchmarks that indicate program and graduate success are program completion and job placement rates. The five-year completion rate is 97 percent, and the five-year job-placement rate within six months of program completion is 98 percent.

“This level of success can be attributed to the hard work, dedication, resilience and determination of the students,” Benson said. “They make many sacrifices in order to maintain high grades throughout a program that is six consecutive semesters in length with more than 1,700 hours of clinical education – the highest number of clinical education hours required of any of the nursing and health sciences programs at Jackson State.”

Another reason for this success is the effort of Jackson State faculty and the clinical instructors and support staff from affiliate hospitals, Benson said.

“We invest a large amount of time into our students’ education, but even more than that, we invest a part of ourselves,” Benson said. “Our students recognize we are not perfect, but we are providing them with the opportunity to achieve a level of success that is unlimited. Our relationship with students lasts well into their professional careers and doesn’t end when they graduate.”

When Jackson State’s Radiologic Technology Program began in 1969, it was the first college-based associate degree radiography program in Tennessee and the third in the United States. It is one of the original health sciences programs initiated when the college was established more than 50 years ago, and it began with one clinical affiliate – Jackson-Madison County General Hospital – and five students.

Since those humble beginnings, the program continues to partner with JMCGH and has expanded to include clinical affiliations with West Tennessee Healthcare in Dyersburg, Henry County Medical Center in Paris, and Baptist Memorial Hospital in Union City.

Today, Jackson State is one of six community colleges to offer an associate degree in Radiologic Technology in Tennessee and currently has some of the highest numbers of credentialing exam pass rates.

“Our faculty is very pleased with the efforts of all RADT students, especially those who just completed in August,” Benson said. “The students had a long summer term of review, and that dedication paid off in their 100 percent pass rate this year. They are to be congratulated and commended. These graduates now join the history of a program of success.”

To learn more about the Radiologic Technology program at JSCC, visit jscc.edu/rt or call 731-424-3520 ext. 50300.

Who do you call in West Tennessee if you need an animal removed from your house or commercial structure? The answer is Wildlife Prevention & Repair (WildlifePR). The company, known for its bird and animal removal, also provides various services, including needed repairs to structures.

Owner Clint Cary grew up working with wildlife. Over the years, Clint and his wife, Trista, served customers with bird and animal removal. During this time, they found a need for adequately sealing structures to keep these unwelcome visitors out.

There are many reasons to seal a structure. Whether it's for health concerns or cosmetic concerns - birds, bats and animals have a way of affecting both when they move in. Bird and animal droppings also carry many diseases. Employers need solutions to keep employees and consumers safe and healthy, and residents need the same for their families. These concerns over diseases and human health have further established the wildlife control industry as legitimate and professional.

The team will also install preventive measures to stop problems before they start. Bird control solutions are another area of expertise offered that has become very popular for commercial and residential clients, along with an increase in snake removal.

WildlifePR also offers a diverse array of services on top of removal and prevention. The team provides additional services after an animal has invaded a location. Included are attic cleanout, odor control provisions, insulation services, crawl space work from animal damage, gutter cleaning and almost any repairs from wildlife damage. The company provides bird netting and other deterrents to keep birds away. If your problem involves any wildlife and has a solution, this team can handle it.

WildlifePR began as a part-time business, receiving its first Animal Damage Control permit in 2006 from the state. In 2012, it became a full-time business. During this time, Wildlife Prevention & Repair has provided training and lectured at various seminars for different groups, including Bass Pro Shops. It has performed training and lectures in Tennessee, Alabama, South Carolina, Missouri, Georgia, and Kansas.

WildlifePR's clients range from residential homes in all types of settings to commercial buildings of all sizes. WildlifePR services them all. The team may be removing squirrels or a raccoon from an attic one day, and installing bird preventive measures to a commercial building's signage or front entrance the next.

"As a small business, it's our desire to please our clients that sets us apart," says Cary. "We take a lot of pride in our work and in doing a great job to make our clients happy." He also states they love being close to Jackson, Tennessee, because it's so diverse.

This family business will be happy to take care of your family or business! Clint's wife, Trista, usually answers the phone. He adds, "She's put up with me and followed me all over the Eastern U.S. doing this, so she knows more about wildlife problems than most. We are definitely a family business."

For more information, visit the website at WildlifePR.com, email Clint@WildlifePR.com or call 731-415-6043.

Installing bird netting to keep birds out.

Bird netting after instal.

Aaron, employee, getting the mole removal season started.

Installing dig barrier around porch to keep skunks out.

Ninety-eight percent of graduates from Union University’s College of Pharmacy in 2020 passed the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination, the top performance in Tennessee and the eighth highest in the nation.

The average pass rate for the test is 88 percent nationally.

“Excellence in education outcomes continues to prevail at the Union University College of Pharmacy, even in the midst of a pandemic,” said Sheila Mitchell, dean of the Union College of Pharmacy. “We are certainly grateful for the performance of our class of 2020 graduates on their licensing board exams as they completed their studies during a year interrupted by the onslaught of COVID-19. We congratulate them on this outstanding achievement.”

The NAPLEX is designed to evaluate general practice knowledge and is taken by pharmacy students shortly after graduating. It is one component of the licensure process, and boards of pharmacy use the exam to assess a candidate’s competence to practice as a pharmacist.

The University of Memphis(UofM) began operations on the Lambuth campus in 2011. With all the power of a major research university behind it, The University of Memphis Lambuth Campus brings visionary learning to West Tennessee. It gives area residents a campus in their own backyard, making it very convenient to get a world class education close to home. The Lambuth setting is just what you might expect in the friendly city of Jackson - a 57-acre, tree-filled, tranquil campus with stately historic buildings. No vast parking lots. No high-rise buildings. You are simply surrounded by beauty and a genuine love for learning.

At Jackson's only four-year public university, you will be inspired by top professors in small classes, putting you on a first-name basis with experts in your field of study and building contacts to last throughout your career. You will be part of Tiger Nation and have all the advantages of its larger metropolitan university, along with the benefits of the intimate residential college environment of Lambuth.

UofM Lambuth serves Jackson and the surrounding communities, providing first class, quality educational programs from bachelor to doctoral levels. Campus faculty, staff and students also give back to the community by being involved in a number of community activities ranging from the Jackson Chamber to the Jackson Rotary Club, to serving organizations in a variety of capacitites.

UofM Lambuth has continued to thrive over the years. In the spring of 2018, the UofM Lambuth enrollment increased to over 1000 students for the first time in its operation on the campus, and plans are to continue to grow the campus enrollment and continue to fulfill our mission.

UofM Lambuth is located at 705 Lambuth Boulevard. Visitors to the campus may enjoy a tour of the campus or a self-guided tour of the arboretum. For those that prefer a virtual tour of the campus, you can find it at Memphis.edu/Lambuth. You can also find more information on the university there as well.

Hear how Katie Castillo-Wilson, founder and ceo of TapOnIt, decided to quit her "normal" job to launch this tech startup in Iowa. Katie talked about creating the idea, raising money, managing through a pandemic and TapOnIt's continued growth.

Katie's experience has been quite the adventure, raising over $5M for her company since its inception in 2014. TapOnIt helps brands connect with consumers in the most direct way possible.

Sponsored by Commercial Bank and Trust Company, Nordstar Medical Skincare & Laser Center, Robert's Jewelers, West Tennessee Women's Center

Lakesha Smith with her company, Comfortably Clean.

Clean, organized, beautiful – three words to describe what Comfortably Clean can do for your home life. Founded October 23, 2015, by Lakesha Smith, Comfortably Clean’s primary purpose is to assist families by simplifying the cleaning of their home. And this is no ordinary cleaning as Smith goes the extra mile, adding personal touches to accent the homes of her clients and help them be better organized.

Smith earned a bachelor’s degree in Business and Organizational Development in 2016, which enhances her cleaning by adding organizational skills. She entered the workforce in 2003 and was primarily employed in the janitorial industry until 2017, working as an employee, and as an entrepreneur while she earned her degree. Her job sites included various factories and medical facilities throughout Madison County.

Organizing has always been a hobby for Lakesha. “Even as a child, I'd get super excited when it was time to put the groceries away,” says Smith. “Placing them neatly in alphabetical order was so fun! As I grew up, I noticed how much satisfaction organizing brought and implemented it into my daily routine.”

“I was motivated to start my own business because of the compliments I'd receive about my unique attention to detail,” she says. "What if I could help hardworking families feel more comfortable at home? It would be my way of feeding my passion to help my community!”

The idea of opening her own business came to her one evening in class as she decided to take on a leadership role providing her knowledge and assistance to others. “I decided in class that I would open a small cleaning business. First, I recognized my target market would primarily be busy parents who worked long hours. Next, I researched the essentials needed and acquired all the necessary documents and supplies immediately. Finally, I sought potential clients by offering fast and free estimates. I’m proud to say my very first client is still a current client five years later.“

Future plans for Comfortably Clean include expanding coverage area, adding small offices and more residential clients. Lakesha can be reached 7 days a week at 731-225-6924 from 7am-7pm. Find her business on Facebook at or under the Jackson Chamber’s member directory.

What do you love about Jackson, Tennessee? Hear why local citizens decided to grow roots in our incredible city! Watch the final part of our three series, quick videos. #JacksonTN

What do you love about Jackson, Tennessee? Hear why local citizens decided to grow roots in our incredible city! Watch the second part of our three series, quick videos. #JacksonTN

What do you love about Jackson, Tennessee? Hear why local citizens decided to grow roots in our incredible city! Watch the first of our three series, quick videos. #JacksonTN