Fri, 05/10/2024 – 10:35am | By: Rebecca Holland

The Institute for Disability Studies (IDS), at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) and The Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services have extended a partnership to continue providing the successful Job Extravaganza program for the next year with renewal option up to five years.

The Job Extravaganza program is a specialized opportunity for students with disabilities, ages 14-21, to participate in a hands-on job experience, provided by local businesses in the area. Job Extravaganza is a fun-filled and educational experience with the primary purpose of providing an inclusive business learning experience.

The goal of the Job Extravaganza is to provide an environment where students can explore a variety of careers freely at their own pace, which can lead them to discover what career options best fit their preferences, strengths, and interests.

Each Job Extravaganza event begins with a virtual pre-session for student attendees to review the in-person day agenda and discuss rules, student roles, business experience opportunities, and overall expectations. The in-person event consists of businesses from the local areas that provide job skill stations. Students can visit these stations, learn various employment tasks, and receive valuable feedback.

In addition to the students visiting all job stations, they are provided lunch, have time to network, and receive direct pre-employment training. Within two weeks after the in-person event, students participate in a virtual post-session to review event activities, discuss the businesses and skill opportunities, and plan for next learning steps.

“Since November 2022, the Institute for Disability Studies has piloted three Job Extravaganza events in Long Beach, Pearl, and Bay St. Louis, for over 180 secondary students with disabilities,” noted Dr. Jerry Alliston, IDS Associate Director. “Our transition team is excited for this multi-year initiative as we have already seen the impact on students in learning new skills, exploring potential employment options, and even obtaining actual jobs.”

The Job Extravaganza is a service provided by IDS at The University of Southern Mississippi, Mississippi’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, and is funded by The Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services as part of a partnership between the two entities.

To learn more about Job Extravaganza or to request an event in your area, visit www.usm.edu/ids, call 601.266.5163, or email ids@usm.edu.

Mississippi State baseball was without Connor Hujsak in Friday’s series-opening 7-5 loss at Arkansas, and the senior outfielder won’t return for the remainder of the three-game set. Coach Chris Lemonis told reporters after the game that Hujsak tweaked his back this week.

“Hopefully we will have him back next weekend,” Lemonis said.

Despite Hujsak’s absence, the Bulldogs (32-17, 14-11 SEC) were able to get to Arkansas ace Hagen Smith. The left-handed starter lasting only five innings and allowed three runs — all coming on a three-run double from Hunter Hines in the fifth. Mississippi State was the first team to score at least three earned runs against Smith since James Madison accomplished it on Feb. 16.

MSU starter Khal Stephen outlasted Smith. The former Purdue transfer threw seven innings and allowed four runs.

Mississippi State held a 5-4 lead in the eighth inning. However, against relief pitcher Tyson Hardin, who hadn’t allowed an earned run in SEC play before Friday, the Razorbacks (41-9, 18-7) rallied for three runs in the penultimate inning to win.

Hujsak’s .349 batting average ranks second on the team while his eight home runs rank third behind Dakota Jordan and Hines. In conference play, Hujsak leads the team with a .387 batting average, which ranked fourth among SEC players entering Friday.

Jordan moved from right field to center with Hujsak out. Aaron Downs, who hasn’t played since an April 21 win against Auburn, started in right field Friday. He was 1-for-5 with a run scored.

HOT CORNER: Inside Logan Kohler’s rise with Mississippi State baseball from Bobby Witt Jr to power surge

Stefan Krajisnik is the Mississippi State beat writer for the Clarion Ledger. Contact him at skrajisnik@gannett.com or follow him on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, @skrajisnik3.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Connor Hujsak injury: Mississippi State baseball OF out vs. Arkansas

SCHEDULED GAME TIME

Saturday, 6 p.m. at Baum-Walker Stadium (11,531) in Fayetteville

RECORDS 

Arkansas 41-9, 18-7 SEC

Mississippi State 32-17, 14-11 SEC

STREAKS

Arkansas won 1

Mississippi State lost 2

LAST 10 GAMES

Arkansas 7-3

Mississippi State 7-3

COACHES 

Arkansas: Dave Van Horn — 880-450 in 22nd season at Arkansas and 1,200-607 in 30th season overall in Division I. 

Mississippi State: Chris Lemonis — 199-110 in sixth season at Mississippi State and 340-201-2 in 10th season overall.

SERIES HISTORY

Arkansas leads 60-57, including 28-19 in Fayetteville. 

LAST MEETING

Arkansas defeated Mississippi State 7-5 on Friday in Fayetteville. 

TELEVISION 

The game will be streamed on SEC Network+ and can be accessed on WatchESPN.com and via the ESPN app (carrier login required). Brett Dolan (play-by-play) and Troy Eklund (analyst) will be on the call.

RADIO 

Phil Elson (play-by-play) and Bubba Carpenter (analyst) will call the game on the Razorback Sports Network, which can be accessed through local FM and AM affiliates, via the Arkansas Razorbacks Gameday app, via the Varsity Network app or on ArkansasRazorbacks.com. Blackouts may apply.

STARTING PITCHERS

Arkansas: RHP Brady Tygart — 4-2, 3.34 ERA, 1.27 WHIP in 56 2/3 innings.

Mississippi State: BHP Jurrangelo Cijntje — 7-1, 3.53 ERA, 1.13 WHIP in 66 1/3 innings. 

TEAM COMPARISONS

Earned Run Avg.: Arkansas 3.35; Mississippi State 4.23

Runs Per Game: Arkansas 6.80; Mississippi State 7.08

Batting Avg.: Arkansas .271; Mississippi State .284

Opp. Batting Avg.: Arkansas .207; Mississippi State .233

Slugging Pct.: Arkansas .444; Mississippi State .446

On-Base Pct.: Arkansas .389; Mississippi State .396

Fielding Pct.: Arkansas .982; Mississippi State .982

FORECAST

According to the National Weather Service, Saturday will be clear with a high of 79 degrees and a low of 56 in Fayetteville. Northwest winds will become calm.

WHAT TO KNOW

• Arkansas has a two-game lead over Texas A&M and a four-game lead over Mississippi State in the SEC West standings. The Razorbacks are one game behind Kentucky and tied with Tennessee for second place in the overall SEC race. 

• Arkansas is ranked third and Mississippi State is ranked 15th in the USA Today Baseball Coaches Poll. 

• The Razorbacks were predicted to win the SEC and the Bulldogs were predicted to finish last in the SEC West by league coaches. 

• Arkansas has a 32-2 record at Baum-Walker Stadium. Mississippi State is 7-8 on the road and 10-9 in all games away from home.

• Since losing a series at Ole Miss in mid-April, Mississippi State has won 8 of 11 games against SEC competition, including a midweek game against Ole Miss at a neutral site that did not count against either team’s conference record. 

• Arkansas has won its last four series against Mississippi State with three sweeps. The Bulldogs have not won a series in Fayetteville since 2007. 

• The Razorbacks and the Bulldogs rank first and second, respectively, in the SEC in team ERA. 

• Mississippi State right fielder Dakota Jordan is an All-America candidate who entered the series batting .367 with an OPS of 1.201. Jordan has 16 home runs, 11 doubles and 56 RBI, and earlier this week was named a finalist for the Ferriss Trophy that goes to the best college baseball player in Mississippi. 

• Arkansas right fielder Kendall Diggs (shoulder) did not start Friday’s game but entered as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning. Diggs has played through an injury to his left shoulder since March 9 and appeared to aggravate the injury during the Razorbacks’ finale at Kentucky last weekend.