Page 94 - South Mississippi Living - April, 2026

Compiled by Cherie Ward
Justin Keith Thomas
Eliza Boland
photo courtesy of Justin Keith Thomas
Born and raised in Pascagoula, Justin Keith Thomas
has balanced academic ambition, leadership, and family responsibility with steady determination. A gifted student early on, he consistently earned placement on the President’s List
in the Pascagoula- Gautier School District before transitioning to homeschooling in fifth grade, a decision that allowed him to
accelerate his studies and further develop his creativity and leadership skills.
At 15, Justin began dual enrollment at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s Jackson County Campus on a full-tuition scholarship through the Center of Security and Emerging Technology Program, majoring in Coding Technology. Now 17, he is both a senior at Thomas Academy and a college student
at MGCCC, where he was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and participates in the Concurrent Enrollment Leadership Organization. He is on track to earn his Associate of Applied Science degree in December.
Justin’s character has also been shaped by personal challenges. After his mother experienced complications from a spinal cord injury, he stepped into the role of caregiver, helping manage meals, household duties, and support for his younger sister while keeping up with school and extracurricular activities.
He serves on the Pascagoula Mayor’s Youth Council, has bowled competitively for nine years, founded a gaming video- editing business at 12, and works in his family’s landscaping company—gaining firsthand experience in leadership, marketing, and entrepreneurship.
Eliza Marye
Catherine Boland
doesn’t just show
up—she shines. A
senior at Resurrection
Catholic High School,
Eliza has built a high
school career defined
by leadership, service,
and a joy that seems
to follow her wherever
she goes. Voted
Homecoming Queen
in 2025 and recognized
multiple times in
Yearbook Who’s
Who—including “Most
Likely to Brighten Your
Day”—she has earned a reputation for lifting others and leading with heart.
A triple-sport varsity captain in volleyball, soccer, and tennis, Eliza leads by example both on and off the field. She serves as President of Spirit Society, Vice President of St. Agnes Club, and a Campus Minister, while also dedicating hundreds of volunteer hours to causes close to her heart. From organizing a local Christmas toy drive to volunteering 375 hours at a Christian summer camp, service is more than an activity for Eliza—it’s a calling.
She plans to attend Mississippi State University in the fall, where she hopes to pursue a degree in business while continuing her philanthropic work. Though still weighing the exact direction she wants to take, one thing is certain: Eliza’s future is bright— and she intends to use her gifts to make a lasting difference.
photo courtesy of Eliza Boland
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