WESSON — Shannon Mire didn’t expect to be one of the faces of Copiah-Lincoln Community College when she enrolled, but quickly found the opportunity to help perspective and incoming students rewarding.

Mire is among a handful of students selected as Trailblazers on the college’s Wesson Campus.

The hospitality recruitment group, which was founded in 1981, participates in a variety of activities including campus tours and high school recruiting trips, among others.

“We help new students with whatever we can on campus and also talk to high school students to tell them why we think they should come,” Mire said. “It’s a great way to share my experiences with others.”

Students are given the opportunity to become part of the group during the beginning of the fall semester.

Mire, a 2013 Cathedral graduate, said she jumped at the chance to be a part of the group after hearing from Cathedral graduates Madison Watts and Caitlin Lofton, who were already part of the group.

“They spoke very highly of the group, and I heard about how much fun they were having,” Mire said. “I liked that I knew a couple of people from Natchez, but this was a great way to meet new people and reach out to those people who were in my shoes.”

Trailblazers must be freshmen or sophomores, display good moral character, participate in campus activities and maintain a 2.5 GPA on 12 or more hours.

More than 50 applicants went through the interview and selection process, and Mire was among the nearly 30 selected.

“We’ve done a few events since I was selected, and we have pre-registration coming up where we’ll help people coming in to the school,” Mire said. “It’s been a great way to get involved.”

Mire is a pre-nursing major and hopes to transfer to the University Medical Center in Jackson or the University of Southern Mississippi next year to continue her path to become a registered nurse.

Mire decided to become a nurse after witnessing a knee surgery at a hospital in Washington during a trip to a National Youth Leadership Forum.

The 19-year-old student said attending Co-Lin, however, made the most sense before getting into the hustle and bustle of a four-year university.

“I really think that a community college is a great way to start off,” Mire said. “You have better communication with your teachers because it’s smaller, and I just think it’s a better transition from high school.”

Mire is the daughter of James and Sharon Mire of Natchez.