MCC’s McCollough leads with First-Team honors on the All-Mississippi Academic Team
Meridian Community College student Rachel McCollough was named to the First Team of the All-Mississippi Academic Team for the 2023-24 academic term.
She joined other Mississippi community college students who were recognized as First and Second Team members. The highest-scoring nominee from each of the 15 Mississippi two-year colleges is named to the All-Mississippi First Team. The remaining students are chosen for the All-Mississippi Second Team.
Three other MCC students, Jasmine Carter, Amari Davis, and Bradon Epting, were selected to the Second Team of the All-Mississippi Academic Team for 2023-24.
The All-Mississippi Academic Team, begun 30 years ago as the first state-level academic recognition program for community and junior college students, recognizes the educational and leadership accomplishments of Mississippi community and junior college students. The program was established by the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges, the Mississippi Community College Board, and the Phi Theta Kappa honor society.
Nominations are based on outstanding academic performance and service to the college and community.
“It is an enormous privilege to be named to this PTK honor,” McCullough, a fourth-semester Associate Degree Nursing Program student, said. Explaining she had been homeschooled and raised on a dairy farm, McCollough shared that “with the support of my family and dear friends, I went to a formal school for the first time at MCC when I was 36 years old for an eventual associate of applied science degree for paramedic,” McCollough said.
“It means so much to me and makes me desire to work harder to succeed and be able to give back to those around me who are trying to improve and succeed as well,” she said. Her career goals include becoming a critical care nurse and a certified flight registered nurse. She also plans to earn her master’s degree and later teach.
Carter is also a fourth-semester Meridian Community College’s Associate Degree Nursing
Program student who aspires to become a nurse practitioner in the women’s health specialty.
Davis and Epting are sophomore students in the University Transfer Program. Davis is majoring in mechanical engineering and wants to advance in the engineering field and ultimately own her own engineering business. Epting is majoring in mathematics and plans on serving in a vocational ministry while using a degree in mathematics to help others.
Team members received medallions, certificates, and printed resolutions from the Mississippi Legislature.
For more information, visit meridiancc.edu/ptk.