Paris Junior College has been naming a Mr. and Miss PJC each spring for decades, but Wednesday night, a tie resulted in a Mr. and Miss… and Miss PJC. The announcement came during halftime of the men’s basketball game on March 6, 2024.
Each year PJC faculty and staff nominate students who are graduating sophomores with a minimum of 12 semester hours in the current semester and 45 hours completed, and who have at least a 2.75 GPA. The student body selects the winners from a slate of ten finalists.
Named as Mr. PJC was Dewitt Brookins, a 2022 graduate of Sulphur Bluff High School in Sulphur Bluff, Texas. He is the Student Government Association President, a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the two-year college honor society, and served last year as the African American Student Union President. He has been named to the PJC Dean’s List, and plans to transfer to a four-year university to study neuroscience. He is the son of Shenita Brookins, who is currently a student in the PJC associate degree nursing program.
Tied with an equal number of student votes for Miss PJC were Caydence Gonzalez and Grace Pippin.
Gonzalez is a 2022 graduate of Lee High School in Midland, Texas, and the daughter of AnnaLissa and Jesus Gonzalez. She is a returning member of the Women’s Soccer Team and a member of Phi Theta Kappa. She was named 2023 NJCAA Academic All American Third Team and to the PJC President’s and Dean’s Lists. She plans to transfer to a four-year university to pursue a degree in nursing.
Pippin is a 2022 graduate of Hughes Spring High School in Hughes Spring, Texas and the daughter of David Pippin and Leslie Pippin. She is a returning member of the Softball Team which came in third nationally for 2023 NJCAA Academic Team for Softball. She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and was named 2023 NJCAA Academic All American Second Team, National Fastpitch Coaching Association All-America Scholar-Athlete and to the PJC Dean’s List. She plans to attend a four-year university to play softball and pursue a nursing degree.
Other nominees included Jackson Braun of Spring, Preston Gamster of Dallas, Caleb Jameson of Reno, Kelsey Kovar of Thorndale, Grace Moore and Kate Rainey of Paris, and Casey Reiniche of Telephone.
Photo cutline: Shown from left are 2024 Miss PJC Grace Pippin, Mr. PJC Dewitt Brookins, and Miss PJC Caydence Gonzalez. Pippin and Gonzalez tied in voting, the first time this has ever happened.
