Residential assistants help make MCC feel like home
For the 315 students living on the Meridian Community College campus, a home away from home means more than a place to sleep.
It’s having someone nearby who can answer a question, offer support, or simply help them feel like they belong.
"I've had people come up to me and say, 'Hey, you're my RA, right? Can I ask you this question?' They're not afraid to come up to me and talk to me, so I've been happy about that," said Saylor Fletcher, one of 12 MCC residential assistants (RAs) for the 2026-27 academic year. There are three residential facilities on campus: College Crossing Apartments; Thornton Hall and Elliott Hall.
Joining Fletcher as an RA are Hannah Beddingfield of Collinsville, Destiny Bonner of Quitman, Sydney O'Hair of Florence, Tranecia Topps of Columbus, and Naiya Bronson of Belzoni at College Crossing Apartments; Serving in Elliott Hall are Tylar Ross of Flowood and Josh Randall of Meridian, Reid Vineyard of Jackson, and Gavin Thurman of Ellisville. Tristin Jones of Pass Christian and Jamir Haskin of Biloxi serve in Thornton Hall.
Serving as a helping hand is one role MCC's residential assistants play in the college's residence halls and apartments. They also serve as leaders, resources, and familiar faces for students who may be living away from home for the first time.
For Ross, the job has also helped him grow. Ross returned to the role this fall after serving last year, and he said he's enjoyed meeting new residents and being part of the hall community.
"Being an RA is great so far," Ross said. "I'm liking the new people."
Ross said the job has helped him come out of his shell.
"It helped me stop being so shy and become more talkative," he said.
Jones is an RA for the first time this year and he said the experience has exceeded his expectations.
"It's been extremely fun," Jones said. "I've never been bored, and the residents this year have been amazing. It's very eventful."
Jones had a head start on knowing what to expect: His brother served as an RA for about three years and urged him to apply.
"He told me he learned some of the most important skills from being an RA," Jones said. "He also made some of his best friends and learned life lessons from it. I wanted to experience that, too."
Fletcher, who is a sophomore from Purvis, saw the RA program as a way to get more involved on campus. She played volleyball her first year at MCC but missed the level of being active as she'd had in high school.
"I was really involved in high school. I was in everything," Fletcher said.
When MCC opened RA applications, a friend already in the role encouraged her to apply.
"Once I kind of found out what it was, I was like, sign me up," Fletcher said. "That's exactly what I want to do."
Fletcher said the position gives her a leadership role while letting her support other students. "I like being able to be that kind of person for someone," she said. "If they have questions or need anything, I like being able to help," she added.
The job has also connected her with students she might not have otherwise met through training and other RA activities that build camaraderie among the RAs. Balancing classes, volleyball and RA duties keeps Fletcher busy, but she said her freshman-year experience taught her how to manage her time and find her way around campus.
“Our residential assistants play such an important role in helping students feel at home at MCC,” said Ellie Winter Williams, interim director of Housing and Student Activities. “This new group of RAs brings energy, compassion, and a desire to serve others. They are here to help our residents build connections, navigate college life, and make the most of their experience on campus,” Williams said.
She added, “We want every student who lives with us to feel supported, included, and encouraged to truly live their best college life.”
For more information, visit meridiancc.edu/housing.