Young Alumnus of the Year
Black Named Young Alumnus of the Year at Holmes Community College
Jacob Black, a 2008 graduate of Holmes Community College, has been selected as the Young Alumnus of the Year. The honor will be presented at an awards ceremony on Oct. 23 at the Goodman Campus.
Black, originally from McCool, completed the Pre-Law curriculum at Holmes and played football during his time there. As a sophomore offensive tackle, he was named Second Team All-State. He earned a Juris Doctorate from Mississippi College and currently serves as the executive deputy director for programs at the Mississippi Department of Human Services.
He previously served as president of the Holmes Alumni Association and continues to serve on the college’s Alumni Association Executive Committee.
Black said he chose Holmes because it provided a smaller, supportive environment where he could both play football and prepare for his career.
“Every action has an equal reaction,” Black said. “When you look at big agencies like the Department of Human Services, such a small reaction can make a big difference and affect those actions of the people we serve.”
Black’s favorite class at Holmes was Physical Science with Jim Shirley, which helped guide his professional path.
Black and his wife, Ryan, also a Holmes graduate, met on the Goodman Campus in 2007 and credit the college for bringing them together. They now live in Gluckstadt with their two sons.
The Young Alumnus of the Year award recognizes outstanding graduates who have made significant contributions early in their careers.
