MCC’s Eagles SOAR program gives Buchanan boost
Originally from a small north Mississippi town, Hannah Buchanan moved to Meridian to live with her grandmother. She had withdrawn from public school to attend homeschool. Though she completed the 12th grade in homeschool, Buchanan never earned her high school diploma.
On March 7, 2023, she enrolled in the Meridian Community College Adult Education program, seeking to earn her high school diploma. Three weeks later, she started in MCC’s Eagles Skills for Occupational Advancement and Readiness (SOAR) Out of School Youth Program.
SOAR is for 16 to 24-year-olds to help them gain work experience. The program also provides financial literacy for the students in the classroom.
Soon after entering SOAR, Buchanan earned her high school diploma. Buchanan had no prior work experience and was eager to gain work skills to prepare her for employment. She completed her classroom training promptly and attained her National Career Readiness Credential at the platinum level.
“We saw how hardworking, ambitious, and determined Hannah was, and we encouraged her to go further than a High School Equivalency,” said Victoria Liddell, the Out-of-School Youth Program director.
In addition to classroom training, Buchanan was provided work experience with the local business, The Optical Solution. While completing her work experience, she enrolled in six college credit hours at Meridian Community College.
Today, Buchanan is a full-time student in MCC’s Precision Machining Engineering Technology Program and is a member of the student recruiting organization, the Ivy League Recruiters.
She plans to earn an associate’s degree while at MCC.
To learn more about the Eagles SOAR program, visit meridiancc.edu/eaglessoar.