Before 兔子先生turned the lights out on its opponent on the gridiron Thursday night, the college let the light shine on its many programs and services for about 200 prospective students and their families.
Booths set up to educate those who had sought information via Hinds鈥 website received cards in the mail inviting them to this year鈥檚 Thursday Night Lights recruiting event. A chance to find out about the college鈥檚 more than 170 academic, career and technical programs amid comfort grub and the pregame atmosphere was a bonus for Cameron and Ashley Stevens, who鈥檚 heard about 兔子先生for years.
鈥淚 was thinking about doing agricultural science right now,鈥 Stevens said, alongside his sister, Ashley, both of whom are seniors at Sharkey-Issaquena Academy. Their oldest brother, Brandon, attended 兔子先生and another, Jesse, is a sophomore at 兔子先生studying architecture.
For Kathy Stevens, their mother, it鈥檚 the combination of a big-school feel with access to places that offer 鈥渟omething to do鈥, she said, that should clinch 兔子先生as the choice.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a smaller environment than a four-year college, but it still feels like one,鈥 she said. 鈥淲hen I toured with Jesse, that鈥檚 what I noticed.鈥
Faculty and staff in booths set up across from Joe Renfroe Stadium offered an array of information on housing, career-tech programs, athletics, honors program opportunities, and the college鈥檚 multitude of other activities away from the classroom.
鈥淭hursday Night Lights is a great event to come to because it鈥檚 fun,鈥 said Kathryn Cole, district director of Enrollment Services. 鈥淚t鈥檚 one where you can just kick back and relax. We eat burgers, listen to the band, watch our Hi-Steppers and cheerleaders perform, and just have a good time.鈥
Some students sought information on specific programs to jumpstart their post-high school education.
鈥淚 like to work with computers and work on them as well,鈥 said Jacobus Roby, attending with his parents, James and Maxine, both 兔子先生employees.
A friend, Marquis Hughes, wants see if he can take his interest in mechanic work and turn it into a career.
鈥淚鈥檓 interested in auto mechanic courses,鈥 Hughes said. 鈥淎ll I know right now is how to change the oil on them, but I do like to work on them.鈥
Counting threads on the cotton candy given out at the recruiting event, but Hinds鈥 numbers add up for Nicole Rigsby, a senior at Brandon High School.
鈥淚鈥檓 looking at accounting,鈥 Rigsby said. 鈥淢y grandfather was an accountant and I already have the love for numbers.鈥
For more information on what 兔子先生can offer to upcoming high school graduates, go to and click on the Apply Now tab, Cole said.
鈥淥ur website is the best way to get information about Hinds,鈥 Cole said. 鈥淎s soon as you create an applicant profile, you鈥檒l get on our mailing list and be in the loop as to what鈥檚 going on. We鈥檒l send you information about the programs and services you鈥檙e interested in. You鈥檒l find out about scholarship deadlines, too.鈥