Meet Our Students
Claudette Bush, Elementary Education | |
 | When asked why she wanted to attend Southern Miss Gulf Coast, Claudette Bush replies simply that she wanted to further her education in working with children and that the university’s 2+2 program “was the perfect opportunity.”After earning her bachelor’s degree in elementary education, Claudette plans to continue her academic pursuit by earning her master’s degree in counseling. She hopes to teach at the elementary level in the Pascagoula School District. When she’s not in class, Claudette works with the girls mentoring program, God’s Glory, which she founded and currently serves as director. |
Kent Raulston, MBA | |
 | Kent Raulston knew what he wanted from a university when earning his MBA and he was happy that Southern Miss Gulf Coast met each of his criteria. “I wanted a program that was close to where I live and work, would allow me to keep working full time, included in-person class meetings and would allow me to tailor my program to fit my professional goals.” After entering the MBA program, Kent felt that the willingness of the faculty to help students succeed was one of the greatest advantages for attending Southern Miss Gulf Coast. With his MBA, Kent hopes to combine his financial skills as a CPA with his management knowledge from his degree to one day become a chief financial officer. |
Shawn Abbott, Nursing | |
 | After transferring from the local community college, Shawn Abbott wanted to continue his education by being part of a “great nursing program” in a university with a “great location.” While he likes having his classes being so close to the beach, Shawn says he also enjoys working with the university’s faculty and staff. Shawn does not want his education to end with his bachelor’s degree in nursing, but hopes to one day earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. With his love of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Shawn plans to stay local and possibly work at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Biloxi. |
Hiram Wells, Computer Science | |
 | Convenience and location are two reasons Hiram Wells chose Southern Miss Gulf Coast to earn his bachelor’s degree in computer science. With the central location of the university’s Gulf Park campus, Hiram was able to work on earning his degree and be near his job. Hiram says he likes being a student at Southern Miss Gulf Coast because “it’s a great environment for students to learn and the faculty and staff are great.” With his bachelor’s degree, Hiram hopes to one day become a programmer. |
Dawn Maldonado, Sport Coaching Education | |
 | Work and school worked well for Dawn Maldonado as she balanced being a high school softball coach and a student in the sport coaching education bachelor’s degree program at Southern Miss Gulf Coast. As a student, Dawn liked Southern Miss Gulf Coast for its community and student environment. After graduating with her bachelor’s degree, Dawn wants to continue growing her higher education goals by earning her master’s degree and doctoral degree in exercise physiology. In her future goals, she wants to teach high school and plans to continue coaching softball. |