Celebrating MCCers: Audacious appreciation on the horizon
What better way to gather and celebrate the end of another academic year and honor retiring colleagues than by going to the MCC Foundation and MCC Faculty Staff Appreciation luncheon and retirement reception?
Set for Wednesday, May 11, at 11 a.m. in the MSU-Meridian Kahlmus Auditorium, the appreciation luncheon will include a meal of barbecue pulled pork, ribs, rotisserie chicken, potato salad, macaroni and cheese, baked beans, parmesan cheese rolls, tea, and water. And there will be cake.
Good things come in threes, and the MCC Foundation will award three recipients each for the Holladay Professional Development, MCC Foundation Enrichment Through Travel, and the John A. Johnson Awards.
The applause won’t stop there; new years-of-service awards will be presented, too.
Beginning at 1 p.m., a reception will fete eight MCCers for their years of service as they are retiring from the College. Mike Allen, Sheryl Beddingfield, Lauren Clay, Pam Harrison, Lorenzo Naylor, Larry Martin, John Marshall, and Cher Warren will be saluted for their decades of service to the institution.
Allen, who retired from the College in January 2022, served as the director of housekeeping. A Navy veteran, Allen began working at MCC in 2005.
An Associate Degree Nursing Program instructor for 20 years, Beddingfield is a certified nursing instructor. Her retirement begins May 19.
Clay came to MCC in August 2018 as executive assistant to the president after having served many years in a similar role at East Mississippi Community College. She is an alumna of MCC.
A lifelong artist whose works can be seen inside and outside MCC, Marshall has worked at MCC for 36 years teaching students art and curating gallery exhibits.
Harrison, assistant to the president for finance at the College since 2009, previously served the College as vice president for finance for more than 17 years. She began her service with the State of Mississippi as an auditor for the State Auditor’s office for nearly 10 years. She holds both CPA and CGMA certifications.
In March, Martin was inducted into the College’s Talon Club for his 30 years of service. He has worked at the College as a building custodian.
Another long-term employee, Naylor, has been a familiar face on campus, delivering goods in his custodial position. He is completing his service to MCC after 32 years.
Eagle’s Nest Bookstore Manager Cher Warren will be celebrated for her contributions to the College, working on staff for 24 years. Warren was instrumental in the successful and popular community outreach event, Candy Cruise.
The retirees’ memory books, which have been in the Foundation conference room, will be available at the luncheon for MCCers to write a note to the retiring colleagues.