Meridian Collegiate Academy students find their footing at MCC with help from mentors
Carson Willis, left, Zy’Keria Ford, Kayla Fuentes, Jan Freeman, and Courtney Smith.
The Meridian Collegiate Academy students visit with MCC staffers for informal mentoring
sessions.
Navigating the demands of high school while stepping into college life can be overwhelming, but for three Meridian Collegiate Academy students, a helping hand from Meridian Community College staffers is making a difference.
Meridian High School juniors Zy’Keria Ford, Courtney Smith, and Carson Willis are learning to balance academics, college expectations, and extracurricular responsibilities. The students are among 10 participants in the Meridian Collegiate Academy, a dual-enrollment program that allows high school students to earn college credit while still in high school.
Since the program launched in Fall Semester 2025, Ford, Smith, and Willis have formed close connections with MCC’s Kayla Fuentes, director of the Arts & Letters Series, and Jan Freeman, assistant director.
Their introduction came through My College Cares, a campus-wide day of service where MCC faculty and staff serve as team captains for student volunteers. Meridian Collegiate Academy students were encouraged to participate alongside traditional college students, and it was during this experience that the group first connected. That initial meeting quickly grew into something more meaningful.
Now, the students stop by Fuentes’ office almost daily for informal check-ins, encouragement, and conversation. “Even if we have five minutes, we’re coming over here and then going to class,” Smith said. The welcoming atmosphere has developed into an informal mentorship.
For Willis, that encouragement has translated into tangible academic support. When he struggled in math, Willis credits Fuentes and Freeman for pushing him to seek help. “Kayla and Jan are the only reasons why I went to the math lab,” Willis said. “They took me there. It turned out good, and it really helped me.”
Ford agrees, noting the impact of having people on campus who genuinely invest in their success. “They really help us out,” she said.
Fuentes and Freeman are proud of the high schoolers. “This was brand new. They had to come in and navigate everything on their own, and they’ve done great,” Freeman added.
For more information, visit meridiancc.edu.