MCC salutes top of the class during Awards Night ceremonies
Outstanding Meridian Community College students’ academic and athletic achievements
shone as they were spotlighted in the College’s annual Awards Program.
Two ceremonies were held this year: University Transfer Awards Night and Career and Technical Awards Night.
During the University Transfer Awards Night ceremony, MCC sophomore Elizabeth Shirley of Collinsville received the Ivy-Scaggs Distinguished Student Award. This award is given to the most outstanding graduating sophomore active on campus who has positively impacted the school and the surrounding area. Shirley plans to study medicine at the University of Mississippi. She has served as Student Government Association president and is a member of Phi Theta Kappa.
Also receiving accolades were MCC Foundation award winners, including Daylon Horton, the Royalty Education Scholarship; Clayton Phillips, Lucile Reisman Rosenbaum Memorial Scholarship; and Alayham Zaidan, Robert F. Cochran Memorial Scholarship.
Other MCC students selected for awards included:
Levi Graeter, Freshman Military/Veteran of the Year; Kenedi O’Neil, Sophomore Military/Veteran of the Year; Charquris Moore, G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Foundation Scholarship;
Haley Reynolds, Outstanding Music Major Award; Kiana Scott and Nigel Jefferson, Outstanding Visual Fine Arts Students; Daylon Horton, Maude Smith English Award; Matthew Jackson, Sue Key Excellence in Mathematics Award; Clayton Phillips, Outstanding Biological Science Student; Reine Akombo, Outstanding Physical Science Student; Nicholas Lewis, Jimmie Evans Social Science Award; Brandon Brown, Outstanding Business Student; Dax Reaux, Male Athlete of the Year; Presley Black, Female Athlete of the Year; Daniel Espin, Male Scholar Athlete of the Year; Reine Akombo, Female Scholar Athlete of the Year; Daylon Horton, Transfer Pathway Scholar, Second Team; and Reine Akombo, Transfer Pathway Scholar, Second Team.
Also, Parker Germany and Joshua Larum both received the Proficiency Profile Testing Award. The accolade is presented to two students who scored the highest on the E Proficiency Profile Test. The test measures written communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
During the Career and Technical Awards Night ceremony, Josie Reid, New Century Workforce Pathway Scholar, First Team, and Workforce Pathway Scholar First Team; and Reagan Dyess, Workforce Pathway Scholar, Second Team, were spotlighted.
Other Career and Technical Education award winners included Oscar Fields, Outstanding Student Producer; Keith Dailey, Outstanding Business and Marketing Management Technology Student; Steven Lewis, Outstanding Accounting Technology Student; Quardiacious Fennessee, Outstanding Business Office Management Technology Student; Andrea Ruiz, Outstanding Cosmetology Program Student; Gabrielle Hutchinson, “Star Polisher” Award (in Memory of Destiny Triplett) Early Childhood Education; Alexandrea Robinson, Outstanding Fire Protection Technology Student; A’Darrius Ja’Kari Hanible, Outstanding Graphic Design Technology Student; Alden Tew, Outstanding Information Systems Technology Student; Tyra Benoman, Outstanding Medical Office Management Technology Student; Rendell Allen, Outstanding Culinary Artist Award; Kaleigh Griffith, Mark Chandler Rising Star Award; Donna Chaney, Tanya Renia Ocampo Memorial Award;
Joslyn Turner, Outstanding Dental Assisting Student; Ashlee McDonald, Outstanding Dental Hygiene Student; Carolyn Palmer, Outstanding Health Information Technology Student; Jazmine Barham, Outstanding Medical Assisting Technology Program Student; Jasper Molden, Outstanding Physical Therapist Assistant Student; Amber Stone, Outstanding Radiologic Technology Program Student; Harley Wright, Outstanding Respiratory Therapy Program Student; Ashlynn Lofton, Outstanding Surgical Technology Program Student;
Jasmine Kelly, Margaret Armstrong Excellence in Nursing, Fall 2025; Tausha Bianchi and Made Matfey, Margaret Armstrong Excellence in Nursing, Spring 2026; Laurel Davidson, Excellence in Practical Nursing, Fall 2025; Hannah Rogala, Excellence in Practical Nursing Spring 2026; Jeffrey Jenkins, Outstanding Commercial Truck Driving Student;
Austin Clinton, Outstanding Industrial Maintenance Technician Student (Two-Year Program); Jordan Ward, Outstanding Precision Machining Engineering Technology Student; Nathan Bazyari, Outstanding Welding and Cutting Technology Student; Cartelius Lewis and Jacob S. Rodgeres, Outstanding Utility Lineman Technology Students; and Cooper Gordon, Outstanding Diesel Mechanics Technology Student.
National Technical Honor Society members recognized included: James Alsobrooks, Xa’Zarria Blanks, Sumayah Burrage, Lisa Carman, Sara Culpepper, Jessica Demboski, Kelsie Ephrim, Sarah Fulton, Mason Gonzalez, Piper Hemrick, Nigel Jefferson, Ty’Rhiana Jeffery, Dominick Joseph, Steven Lewis, Courtney Odom, Stephon Overstreet, Jairus Parks, Joshua Randall, Trinity Robertson, Andrea Ruiz, Kiana Scott, James Smith, Amber Stone, Tazzden Thomas, Jacob Thompson, Tranecia Topps, Laci Walsh, Neena Walters, and Harley Wright.
The B.G. Raden Memorial Award, which is presented to the most outstanding student organization, was given to the Student Association of Dental Hygiene.
For more information, visit meridiancc.edu/studentlife.