MCC student Destiny Little named New Century Scholar
Meridian Community College student, Destiny Little, has been selected as a 2023 New
Century Workforce Pathway Scholar.
The New Century Workforce Pathway Scholarship program is sponsored by the Coca-Cola Foundation with additional support provided by Phi Theta Kappa, the international academic honor society for community and junior college students.
More than 2,400 applications were received and evaluated on academic achievement, leadership, service, and significant endeavors. Only one New Century Workforce Scholar was selected from each state; Little received the highest score in Mississippi.
“I am beyond honored,” said Little when she learned of receiving the honor. “It is an amazing opportunity, and I am so thankful.”
Little, 24, is a fourth-semester student in MCC’s Associate Degree Nursing Program, who drives from her home in Ridgeland to attend class and her clinical duties. “I usually car pool with other nursing students. Traveling a distance can be challenging at times – especially for the morning classes. We always make it work and we enjoy each other so we keep it going,” she said.
Her desire to become a nurse stemmed from her work with an ambulance company. “I wanted to transition from pre-hospital to hospital care and further my education that way,” she said, noting that she continues to work for the Jackson-based emergency rescue service.
This MCCer has been named to the College’s honor rolls including President’s and Dean’s lists and is a member of the Nu Upsilon chapter of PTK; she also is a member of the honor societies for nursing and psychology, Alpha Delta Nu and Psi Beta, respectively. In her free time, she volunteers at the Hazelhurst Boy Scout camp.
After graduating from MCC in May, Little plans to work in emergency room or intensive care unit setting in facilities in Jackson. She also aspires to return to college and earn her bachelor of science degree in nursing and master of science in nursing.
As a New Century Workforce Pathway Scholar, Little will receive a $1,250 scholarship and will be recognized during the Association of Community College Trustees’ (ACCT) Leadership Congress, held from Oct. 9–12, in Las Vegas, Nevada. “We congratulate Destiny for receiving this prestigious scholarship, and we are honored to partner with Coca-Cola Foundation to recognize these outstanding achievements,” said Phi Theta Kappa’s President and CEO Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner. “Scholarship programs like this are integral for creating opportunities for students to succeed as they prepare to enter the workforce and for putting college completion within reach.”
MCC President Dr. Tom Huebner said Little’s accomplishments demonstrate excellence. “To be recognized as a top community college student is a tremendous honor and a testament to her drive to succeed. We are incredibly proud to have Destiny as a student at our college and we have no doubt that she will continue to excel in her future endeavors,” he said.
The Coca-Cola Foundation is the global philanthropic arm of The Coca-Cola Company. Since its inception in 1984, the Foundation has awarded more than $1 billion in grants to support sustainable community initiatives around the world. For more information about The Coca-Cola Foundation, please visit coca-colagivingback.com
Phi Theta Kappa is the premier honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. The Society is made up of more than 3.8 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 11 countries, with approximately 240,000 active members in the nation’s colleges. Learn more at ptk.org
For details about MCC’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter, please visit meridiancc.edu/ptk.