MCC’s Whiting honored as Top 20 Under Forty leader
With a faith that motivates her to serve, love, and encourage others, Marion Whiting
was recognized as one of 20 of the area’s new generation of leaders for their commitment
to the community.
The award, Top 20 Under Forty, sponsored by Mississippi Power and East Mississippi Connect through a partnership with The Meridian Star and Meridian Life magazine, recognizes local citizens who represent the area’s new generation of leaders.
From medical professionals to military members to business owners, the Top 20 under Forty honorees come from all walks of life and every sector, including education, business, health care, military, nonprofits, government, finance, the arts, and professional services.
Some are actively involved in organizations and programs dedicated to improving the community, while others choose to serve where they see a need.
“I know that as long as I am striving to love others like Jesus loves, I am taking steps to live out His plan for my life,” Whiting said.
Whiting serves as Meridian Community College’s director of housing and student activities; her first post-grad job was at MCC. She started as a student engagement coordinator last year and then transitioned to lead recruiter. “Planning events is where my heart is within higher education,” Whiting explained, adding, “I love creating events that might pull people out of their comfort zone a little bit or offer an opportunity to experience something they never had the chance to experience before.”
“Creating memories with students, coworkers, and the community through these events truly is the greatest joy of my job,” she said.
The first event she hosted was when she was a freshman at college, wanting to go on a mission trip to Greece. While her parents would have paid her expenses, Whiting devised a plan to bring people together and fundraise simultaneously.
“I grabbed a bucket of paints, cut up 200 pieces of cardboard into small canvases, my picnic blanket, and a speaker. I posted a picture to Instagram, letting people know I would be on the Quad of our college campus if they wanted to take a minute between classes to paint a picture with the option to donate to my mission trip if they felt led. What I thought would be maybe an hour of a few of my good friends stopping by turned into a four-hour picnic painting party where I raised every penny I needed to be able to go,” she said.
She added, “I remember in that moment that this is what I loved - to make people smile together.”
Closer to home, Whiting and her MCC colleagues directed MCC’s College for Kids two-week summer camp. Hundreds of children aged 6-12 participate in various activities in this on-campus event.
A native of Bay St. Louis, Whiting holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations from Mississippi College. She will receive her master’s degree in higher education with an emphasis on student affairs from Arkansas State University in May. She is married to Matthew Whiting; they met while in school at MC.
For more information, visit meridiancc.edu.