While at MGCCC, she excelled in her studies and campus life. She graduated with honors, was named to the Vice President’s List, and became a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Beyond her academic accolades, she was actively involved in various organizations, including the Collegiate Academy Program, Circle K International, the Concurrent Enrollment Leadership Organization, and the Student Government Association. Recognized as one of the Who’s Who Among Students at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, she truly left her mark on the MGCCC community.

In high school, Ja’Shaylee graduated with the highest honors, finishing in the top ten percent of her class. Her accomplishments include serving as a Varsity Cheerleader, being a member of the National Honor Society, Beta Club, Key Club, and the Pascagoula Mayor’s Youth Council. She also contributed to the Mississippi Department of Education’s Student Advisory Council and was a member of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Region 4 Youth Preparedness Council.

With a strong commitment to academic excellence, she graduated with a College and Career Academic Endorsement and gained early experience in the legal field, interning with the Jackson County Public Defender and later with the law firm of Cumbest, Cumbest, Hunter, & McCormick.

Now a student at Howard University, she is majoring in Political Science with a minor in Strategic, Legal, and Mass Communications. Her ambition, backed by the foundation provided by MGCCC, has put her on track to graduate summa cum laude by May 2025, when she’ll be just 19 years old.

At Howard, Ja’Shaylee is the Professional Development Department Chair for the Howard University Future Law Scholars, a member of the Black Women Pre-Law Society, and serves as the internship chair for the Howard University political science society. She has also made the Dean’s List, reflecting her continued commitment to academic excellence.

Ja’Shaylee’s experience in government and public service is already impressive. She interned for a Congresswoman on Capitol Hill, completed an internship at the White House in the Office of National Drug Control Policy and is a policy intern at Cornerstone Government Affairs, a governmental relations and lobbying firm in D.C. Driven by a passion for legislation and public policy, Ja’Shaylee hopes to leverage these experiences to make a lasting impact in her field.

She’s currently preparing for the LSAT, with plans to attend law school in fall 2025 to earn her Juris Doctorate and fulfill her dream of becoming an attorney.