MCC honors graduates during two ceremonies
May 10—Meridian Community College hosted two commencement ceremonies Friday in the Evangel Temple, awarding degrees to students from its Career and Technical Education programs, as well as its university transfer programs.
More than 450 students from both programs were candidates for graduation this spring. CTE graduates had completed programs in health education, nursing, precision machining engineering, commercial truck driving, construction trades and culinary arts, among others. University transfer graduates completed general education requirements and will be transferring to a four-year university.
In addition to the two commencements, MCC's Associate Degree Nursing Program hosted a pinning ceremony at the Evangel Temple in a separate ceremony earlier Friday morning.
"Every class is special, they really are. This class, right here, has so many wonderful students," MCC President Tom Huebner said during the afternoon university transfer commencement. "You have a future that's going to be impressive, and they're going to make us so proud, and we're so glad that you had the chance to be part of the Meridian Community College family.
"You influenced us. You impacted us, and we hope we impacted you the same way," Huebner told the graduates.
During the university transfer commencement, MCC Athletic Director Sander Atkinson presented Cathy Pippins, the mother of MCC sophomore golfer Wesley Pippins, who was killed in a car accident in February, with her son's associate degree.
In honoring Pippins' memory, MCC wanted "to recognize his academic achievement and commitment to graduating," Atkinson said during the presentation.
A highlight during the university transfer program was the announcement of this year's Phil Hardin Foundation Scholarship recipients, Nathan Louis Mott and Ember Lynn Temple, and the presentation of the H.M. Ivy Scholarship to Phallyn Makale Clark, Amari K. Davis and Madison Elizabeth Hines.
The Hardin scholarships, which are $5,000 awards to each honoree, pay tribute to the life of businessman Phil Hardin and his philanthropic endeavors to support education. Dr. H.M. Ivy, the founding father of Meridian Community College, is remembered through the Ivy Scholarships, which award recipients $3,600 for their junior year of study, and if their academic excellence continues, the same amount for their senior year.
Mott is from Collinsville and plans to pursue a career in civil engineering at Mississippi State University. Temple, a Meridian resident, plans to attend the University of Southern Mississippi and aspires to become a high school mathematics teacher while coaching women's soccer. Clark is from Moselle and will attend MSU to study to become a physician's assistant. Davis, a McComb resident, plans to attend MSU and study engineering. Hines is from Livingston, Alabama, and will continue her studies at the USM in the medical laboratory science field.
Also, 33 graduates from both the university transfer program and CTE programs were named spring 2024 Circle of Excellence inductees. The students were honored for their academic achievement, leadership skills, community service and MCC spirit.
Circle of Excellence honorees from CTE programs were Daniel Bihn, of Enterprise, precision machining engineering technology; Jessie Broadwater, of Florence, and Savannah Cooksey, of Collinsville, dental hygiene technology; Meagan Cade, of Caledonia, and Rachel McCollough, of Waynesboro, associate degree nursing; Cameron Case, of Philadelphia, early childhood education technology; Caitlin Coats, of Philadelphia, business and marketing management technology; Catherine Compton, of Scooba, Hannah Herrington, of Stonewall, and Gracie Humphreys, of Union, physical therapist assistant technology; Atoria Crowell, of Meridian, media production technology; Madison Gregg, of Maben, Jonathan Polk, of Meridian, Addisyn Pope, of Collinsville, and Emily Stewart, of Philadelphia, radiologic technology.
In addition to Clark, Davis, Hines, Mott and Temple, university transfer program students selected for Circle of Excellence were Allison Beard, Hannah Dover, Bradon Epting, Gary Lamar Gibson, Aaliiya Mendiola, Thiago Martins-Fasano, Emma Winstead, of Meridian; Dawson Hester, of Brookhaven; Isaac James, Meadow Smith and David Vick, all of Collinsville; DeVanye' Kight, of Ridgeland; and Charles King, of Stringer.
Contact Glenda Sanders at gsanders@themeridianstar.com.
