MCC celebrates achievements of Class of 2024 with scholarships and Circle of Excellence
From ceremonies to celebrations to cheers and tears, Meridian Community College hosted two commencements graduates from its Career and Technical Education and University Transfer Programs on Friday, May 10, in the Evangel Temple.
Dr. Tom Huebner, president of Meridian Community College, is proud of the Class of 2024. "MCC has played a pivotal role in helping these graduates discover their potential, equipping them with the essential knowledge, skills, and support to excel," he said. "Seeing them soar toward their dreams underscores the purpose of our efforts," he added.
The highlight of the University Transfer Program ceremony was the announcement of the Phil Hardin Foundation Scholarships, which were awarded to Nathan Louis Mott and Ember Lynn Temple, and the H. M. Ivy Scholarship, which were presented 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. The Phil Hardin Foundation funds them through the Meridian Community College Foundation.
Dr. H.M. Ivy, the founding father of Meridian Community College, is remembered through the Ivy Scholarships. This year marks the 51st year for outstanding graduates to receive scholarships. The honorees each receive $3,600 for their junior year of study, and if their academic excellence continues, they will get another $3,600 for their senior year of study. These awards, which are based on academic excellence, extra-curricular participation, financial need, and faculty appraisals, are funded through an endowment established by the Phil Hardin Foundation.
Mott is from Collinsville and plans to pursue a career in civil engineering. He is a member of the Phil Hardin Foundation Honors College at Meridian Community College and an officer in the MCC chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa academic honorary society. He plans to attend Mississippi State University. Temple, a Meridian resident, aspires to become a high school mathematics teacher while coaching women's soccer. She is a member of the Honors College at MCC, a lead team member of the Baptist Student Union, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and a PTK. She will continue her education at the University of Southern Mississippi.
Clark is from Moselle and will attend Mississippi State University to study to become a physician's assistant. A member of PTK, Clark has been a member of the Lady Eagles Softball Team for her freshman and sophomore years. Davis, a member of the Honors College, is Student Government president, a member of PTK, and was selected to the All Mississippi Academic Team. This McComb resident plans to attend Mississippi State University and study engineering. Hines is from Livingston, Alabama, and will continue her studies at the University of Southern Mississippi in the medical laboratory science field. She is a member of PTK and Honors College.
Also, during the ceremonies, 33 graduates were chosen as members of the Spring 2024 Circle of Excellence. The students who studied in the College's University Transfer and Career and Technical Education programs were saluted for their academic achievement, leadership, community service, and spirit.
MCC President Dr. Thomas Huebner said MCC has a long history of outstanding graduates. The Circle of Excellence is one way the College recognizes these students who excelled at MCC. "These students have made an impact on this place, and we look forward to watching them take flight and impact the world," Dr. Huebner said.
Fifteen Career and Technical Education students named to the Circle of Excellence included 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.
University Transfer Program students selected for Circle of Excellence were Allison Beard, Hannah Dover, Bradon Epting, Gary Lamar Gibson, Aaliiya Mendiola, Thiago Martins-Fasano, Ember Temple and Emma Winstead, all of Meridian; Phallyn Clark of Moselle; Amari Davis of McComb; Dawson Hester of Brookhaven; Madison Hines of Livingston, Alabama; Isaac James, Nathan Mott, Meadow Smith, and David Vick, all of Collinsville; DeVanye' Kight of Ridgeland; and Charles King of Stringer.
Candidates for Spring 2024 graduation include: Garrett B. Combs, Kayla M. Davis, and Evan Derrick Smith, all of Bailey; Jackson W. Swales and Gregory Thompson, both of Brandon; Amelia Kate Anding and Dawson R. Hester, both of Brookhaven; Leaf Gerteis of Brooksville; Sarah J. Cooper, Kishona Davis, and Lisa C. Tackett, all of Buckatunna; Taylah Ross of Byram; Meagan Cade and Aiden Bradley Farmer, both of Caledonia; Peyton Bullard of Canton; Brittany J. Perkins and T'Yunna Romona Pierce, both of Carthage; Taliyah Iyuana Lindsay of Center Point, Alabama; Angelina A. Martin, Ciji R. Vaughn, and Diajah M. York, all of Choctaw; James Curtis Bateman, Devlin Ford, Pedro H. Gonzalez, and Andrea Lynn Weir, all of Chunky; Jamonique S. West of Clinton;
Emily L. Benthall, Jean C. Betancourt, Jayden Deshun Brown, Hannah Buchanan, Miranda S. Bullock, Lyndsie Fountain Carmichael, Destiny T. Chisolm, Sarah L. Cooksey, Savannah L. Cooksey, Daniel V. Davis, Logan Alexander Duque, Amanda Makayla Edmonds, Alyssa C. Franklin, Anna Claire Grayson, Bailey House, Mallie M. Hudson, Isaac T. James, Jasmyne T. McDonald, Nathan L. Mott, Jordan Miracle Murray, Seth W. Phelps, Addisyn Pope, Josie M. Reid, Luis Rios, Meadow Smith, David B. Vick, Emma Mae Watson and Deon Windham, all of Collinsville;
Miracle Breanna Brock and Megan Renae Rodriguez, both of Columbus; Edmariah Sherrod of Crawford; Talib Jamir Ferrette of Crofton, Maryland; Bilishia K. Powell of Crystal Springs; Madison L. Hatcher and Eddie McNeil Jr., both of Daleville; Gregory Dewayne Campbell, Shalliyah Benoman, Randaius A. Gully, Tonya Denise Jenkins, Charlena Odom, and Dylan S. Williamson, all of DeKalb; Anthony Blaise Priester of Denham Springs, Lousiana; Chandani M. Patel of Diamondhead; Landon B. Waters of Duck Hill, Ebony R. Fulford of Ellisville; Daniel W. Bihn, David James Downs, Samuel K. Downs, Ali F. Mehr, Tianna A. Shelby, Peyton Simpson and Haley B. Stockman, all of Enterprise; Jessie R Broadwater and Shelby Malachi Hawkins, both of Florence; M'Kenya K. Gray, Brilteanna Kanisha Sanders, Ashley N. Viverette, and Keyonna S. Wheaton, all of Forest; Caleb Andrew Hall of Hamilton; Dacia Booth, Michael B. Ekes, Alex Xzavier Jordan, and Mary Elizabeth Grace Shivers, all of Hattiesburg; Jasmine T. Gilmore and Tracy Walton, both of Hazelhurst; Tessa Camille Windham of Heidelberg; Claudia Lee Brackeen and Tynashakee S. Foster, both of Hickory; Keon Buck of Hoover, Alabama; PatQuieta Denise Blunt, Heather Kanieshia Champion, Christopher C. Chaplain, Jamyhia Tenise Gibbs, Khadeja A. Johnson, Lashanda N. Jones, Takeita Lachelle McNair, Ezria Robinson, Latoya Dominique Robinson, Erica Rochelle Smith and Rodney Q. Wilcox, all of Jackson; LaToya Denise Flowers of Kilmichael; Tyshika Fleming of Kosciusko; Katelyn Reding Galjour of Larose, Louisiana;
Amaya N. Bryan, Jaylen Grace, James E. Hernandez, Uziel Herrera, Madison Miller Hollingsworth, Willie J. Jenkins and Heather L. Wood, all of Lauderdale; Alexander Gray of Lauderhill, Florida; Julia D. Blackledge and Ashley E. Hollman, both of Laurel; Jamanda Shamar Rasco of Lawrence; Timyra S. Brown of Lena; Shanette Monique Williams of Lexington; Margaret Jane Austin, Anna G. Blount, and Caleb Bradley Cosgrove, all of Little Rock; Michael Dewane Pickens of Livingston, Alabama; James B. Thomas of Loganville, Georgia; Fanchon D. Cook of Louin; Hayden L. Anthony and Emma Hayes Duett, both of Louisville; Madison E. Gregg of Maben; Dirk Troy Dickson of Macon; Mary A. Gallarno of Madison; Gary Kevin of Magee; Brittany Deanna Johnson of Mantee; Lorne Gene Boyd, Asia Bryanna Hopson, Joseph Chavelle Hopson, Tanner A. Miley, and Tamika Lakita Nichols, all of Marion; Amari K. Davis and Denzel N. Jones, both of McComb; Raven Cheyenne Wilson of Mendenhall;
Omar B. Abdelkhaleq, Michaela G. Acord, Nash Acton, Matthew G. Alexander, Larissa Sue-Welborn Alqadhi, Doorress Laneice Anderson, Matheus Arins Farias, Isaih V. Atterberry, Ladesha Quensha Atterberry, Devon Lee Baldwin, Sirr' Anthony Lavon Ball, Harleigh Bryanna Barham, Jay R. Barry, Allison R. Beard, Quantavion Marquise Bell, Bryce K. Benamon, Nicholas C. Bennette, Allen David Bishop, James Bradly Bonner, Marissa Lashae Boyd, Raven C. Boyd, Marquita Liviundia Brewster, Britney L. Brooks, Jy'Quavion Tashun Brown, Lakeitha Ar'geana Brown,Nikkie D. Brown, Tristan H. Buckalew, Danille L. Burnett, Syi Rayshawn Burrage, Jack I. Caldwell, Jarvis C. Campbell, Michael R. Canterbury, Jaeden McKenna Carney, Madison E. Carr, Jasmine Denise Carter, Fabian Castro, Privillege Chikara, Dennis Jamari Childress, KaShari D. Christian, Edward Sanjuan Clements, Jake Rylan Coats, Keshun Oreyon Cole, Pretavia T. Crockett, Atoria Crowell, Mary Ashley Culpepper, Lindsey J. Davidson, Adrien Davis, Chloe E. Davis, KoBriauna T. Davis, SeDerrick E. Davis, Quinn Bryant Q. Dixon, Hannah G. Dover, Sasha A. Dubose, Xavier A. Dubose, JaBria Dunnigan, Bradon C. Epting, Colin D. Everett, Taliyah Evins, Amber Kathryn Fant, Ally C. Fisher, Ean L. Fisher, Kevin Michael Flis, Gary L. Gibson, Blessing Ojiugo Godson, Malia Trinity-Lanae Greer, Aleeyah R. Griffin, Miguel Griffin, Zybreynnia Bre’unsha Hardy, Jessica K. Harrison, Kierra LeShay Hayes, Ja'Nyra Emoni Henderson, Simone Latreese Henry, James L. Herring, Ricky Wayne Higginbotham, Cadese Ryesha Higgins, Ja'Quan Hill, Traliyah Ariel Hill, Loic Gilbert Pierre Hiss, Michelle Deli Holman, Taylor Michael Hosch, Vincent Jax Hubbard, Quadecia J. Hudson, Eli Davis Huebner, Brianna Faith Hutchinson, Maylee Irby, Haylie Dawn Jarman, Daniel W. Johnson, Joshua Johnson, Tykerria R. Johnson, Isaac Johnston, JaNarereo Jones, Christen Faith Jordan, Dickson Clever Kapandura, Jada Markevia Kendricks, Zabion Kendricks, Marquez Teshawn Kennedy, Maria Renee Landrum, Douglas Lane, Jennifer Elizabeth Laws, Adam Blane Leister, Laquandra Shawnee Lewis, Kiersten Rae Mabry, Maci B. Manning, Maggie C. Manning, Tyson Marlow, Kamari Orianna Martin, Thiago Martins Fasano, Allyn Grace McCary, Robert Neal McCharen, Christy Sue McCormick, Cody B. McManus, Thelonious McPhee, Aaliiya Malaea Mendiola, Gabrielle Nicole Milsap, Zet Aldyn Pacho Mirabueno, William L. Mitchell, Nakia M. Monroe, Erian Dennise Moody, Phillip Carltonleon Moore, Aaron J. Mosley, Jada Renee Moulds, Alliyah McKenzie Mullinax, Kendall Nance, Cartavion Kashaun Naylor, Corredius M. Naylor, Letasha T. Naylor, Lolita M. O'Neal, Lauren E. Oneal, Cederian Jai'shun Owens, Terrance Parker, Ashini Chetan Patel, Royder G. Perez, Tonya Shaneka Phillips, Emmaleigh Pierce, Traemond Jamal Pittman, Angel L. Plott, Rawson Anthony Polizzi, Johnathan D. Polk, Tnaizha Cashai Portis, Tiara M. Powe, Jaylon Roy Pruett, April Renee Queen, Edward Jerome Rackley, Jalin Ratcliff, ChaTara Diane Reed, Keith Allen Reed, LeCosha Nikita Rhone, Alicia Roberts, Jakayla Roberts, Dorothy M. Ross, Jakhylen Miguel Ruffin, Jaylen Rush, Johnny T. Shambry, Ephraim Smith, Marilyn Marissa Smith, Alexander Spears, Victoria Ann Spears, Amber Michelle Speed, Latoya N. Steele, John Spinks, Isabel M. Susunaga, Samuel A. Swanner, Katelyn Renee Talley, Dannie Devuntes Taylor, Ember Lynn Temple, Dezmaine Terrell, Jaquarius Xavier Walker, William Riley Walton, Jherri S. Warren, Raheem Shaukur Warren, Wray Wilson Watkins, Alaysha Lenice Watson, Preston S. Webb, Hunter E. White, Kacey R. Williams, Lane I. Williams, Marquez Levon Williams, Sadiaya M. Willis, Natalie Wilson, Emma Winstead, and Kaeli Danae Winstead, all of Meridian;
Matthew J. Scott of Mooreville; Emily Abigail Moore of Morton; Phallyn M. Clark and Osvaldo Grimaldo, both of Mozelle; Marqus L. Armstrong and Lauren Sydney Brooks, both of Moss Point; Jamarkus Sanchez Pruitt and Micah K. Tillman, both of Newton; Dana Dianne Holdiness of Noxapater; Parker Bryan Rumley of Ocean Beach, Alabama; Kiana A. Bailey, Dewan Johnson, Isaiah S. Lowery, Tabitha Anne Mayfield, and Jamie Holton White, all of Ocean Beach; Amanda R. Nichols of Ovette; Justin Anthony Pugh of Petal; Pepper Lee Agent, Christopher W. Beckham, Hayden W. Burrage, Cameron Bryan Spencer Case, Caitlin E Coats, Teonna L. Gadson, Javien Grant, Macy E. Gray, Elijah Cade Griffin, Savannah Diane Henley, Colina Hickman, Jacob E. Killens, Alexus Nicole Lathem, Cora Rose Manning, Olivia K. Nicholson, Brylee Reynolds, Ruth Abigail Storment, Sarah K. Stovall, Meagan Rea Suggs, Kookie James Thompson, Tryeston Shay Thompson, Emily Ann Stewart, Lakeishia Denise Wallace, and Natalie Woodward, all of Philadelphia; Prenqualia Saniya Kevesha Adams and Sha'Kenye' Darden, both of Porterville; Landon K. Houston of Potts Camp; Madison A. Gunnin and Harley Faith Pullin, both of Preston; Kristen Renee Adams, William B. Dickerson, Kalon D. Gordon, Anthony E. Haddox, Kayla Leann Haney, John Carter Kennedy, Lynnzie C. Kennedy, Kamryn A. Kidd, Emily Rogers Odom, Jameion Lashaud Parker, Mary Abigail Pean, Erin L. Perkins, Raven D. Satcher, Halle K. Smith, Jaylin Steeps, Jessica Alejandra Suarez, and Mason Tucker, all of Quitman; Allison Cheyenne Gill of Richland; Tony B. Odom of Richton; April Denise Ervin, DaVanye' Iman Kight, Christopher Michael Watson, and Teatrice L. White, all of Ridgeland; Bethaney Anne Yeates of Rose Hill; Catherine G Compton and Madison E Hines, both of Scooba; Mary Cassidy McLaughlin of Senatobia; Brianna S. Arrington, Carmen Mariah Banks, Shawanda Lakisha Pickens, and Nycolette A. Terrell, all of Shubuta; Jasmine Chardelle Jenkins of Shuqualak; Jasmine L. Pegues of Southaven; Seth T. Cooper of Star; Sheyenne D. Spruell and Drew Todd Williams, both of Starkville; Ramanitra Denson and She'Mar Devionte' Leverette, both of State Line; Reagan Lynn Dyess, Domonick Kaleb Haney, and Hannah R. Herrington, all of Stonewall; Charles Reece King of Stringer; Camryn Layce Phillips of Taylorsville; Keshuna K. Hunter of Terry;
Elisha Grace Allison, Jasmine R. Bryant, Tayana A. Campbell, Hannah Leigh Cooper, Oden K. Dees, Jacolby Griffin, Tekalyn Hill, Reagan Leigh Mathis, Aaliyah Kristin McCallum, Deanna Nicole Reed, and Trevor M. McGlothin, all of Toomsuba; Hanna Homra of Troy, Tennessee; Albert Koniba Diarra of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Jaquan Jerome Rice of Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Jeremy Huff and Gracie M. Humphreys of Union; Cali Grace Davis of Vicksburg; Kelsee Shantrayle Purnell of Villa Rice, Georgia; Zabian Tre'Von Ruffin and Stacey Wooten, both of Walnut Grove; Shakira M. Thompson of Ward, Alabama; Omar Varela of Walls; Fallon Elizabeth Blackwell, Jimmy J. Brazell, De Carlos K. Garrett, Rachel L. McCollough, Kimberly Pitts and RyanDashia Caranna Worsham, all of Waynesboro; Jediah Kaliyah Guines and Samuel Rhett Ketchum, both of West Point; and Braeden Presley Brewer of Wiggins.
Visit meridiancc.edu for more information.