Home run return: MCC students energized for Move-In Day

Brennon Wright was pumped up about Move-Day.  

He was so excited about returning to Meridian Community and his home-away-from-home in the campus' Elliott Hall. "I couldn't sleep last night," the Starkville native said. 

Wright was one of the hundreds who moved into MCC's residence halls, including Elliott, Thornton, and College Crossing, just a few days before the start of the Fall Semester of 2024. Elliott and Thornton are two male residence halls; College Crossing offers an apartment-style layout for women students.  

A second-year member of the Eagles Baseball team, Wright said, "It's awesome to live in campus housing. Baseball is all in one hall. Everybody's together." 

"I feel like it brings unity within the team; the team chemistry goes through the roof because we all live together for 10 months. We get close that way, and I feel like that makes the team stronger when we're all on the field," he added. 

Welcoming new and returning students to campus, Marion Whiting, MCC director of student housing, said housing students have a unique opportunity. "Living on campus immerses you in the full college experience. It allows you to connect with peers, engage in activities, and grow academically and personally. You're not just attending college; you're living it here." 

She advises students who live on campus or commuter students to immerse themselves in all things MCC. "Get involved at any opportunity that you can. With student activities in general, you never know whom you will meet or what experiences you will have, and you never know. Maybe you'll find your calling attending student activities events." 

Some students live and work on campus as well, Whiting explained. "We have 10 residence assistants this year: Four in Elliott, four in College Crossing, and two in Thornton. They are wonderful, hard-working students who received a scholarship to be resident assistants.  

She noted residence assistants are vetted. "They have to go through a very thorough interview and application process, so they are carefully selected. They help complete room inspections, but they're someone on the floor for students to connect with and know they're there if they need help or resources or get connected with the right people." 

After honing his baseball skills this summer in Virginia, Wright noted he was looking forward to returning to campus, adding, "I realized I missed this place a lot more than I thought I would. I was pumped to get back here." 

For more information, visit meridiancc.edu/housing.