Student Spotlight: Alden Tew
Meridian Community College student Alden Tew reached a major milestone; she graduated from one career and technical program last month and in the spring, she’ll complete a second program.
Tew, 20, is a Meridian native who graduated from Clarkdale. After spending one semester at the University of Southern Mississippi, she decided to return home and enroll at MCC.
“I was unprepared, socially and academically, to be alone in a new place,” Tew said. “Coming back home gave me the chance to reset and figure out what really worked for me.”
That decision proved to be a turning point. At MCC, Tew found both direction and flexibility. She completed the Software Coding Technology program in December and is completing the Network Cybersecurity Technology program and will graduate in May.
“MCC has allowed me to speed up my programs,” she said. “I’ve been able to graduate in a year or a year and a half instead of two years, and I could add another program without worrying about a huge expense.”
Tew’s interest in technology started while she was still in high school. During her sophomore year, a Ross Collins Career and Technical Center instructor visited her school to speak about dual-credit opportunities in software coding. “That presentation really stuck with me,” she said. “I started my software development journey the next semester and quickly knew technology was the field for me.”
While continuing in software coding at MCC, Tew was introduced to cybersecurity through shared classes between the two programs. That exposure sparked her interest in learning more about how networks and security systems work.
Both programs emphasize hands-on learning, which Tew said has been key to building confidence.
“We do a lot of labs,” she said. “Being able to actually do what we’re learning makes me confident that I can apply these skills in the real world.”
One lab stands out as especially meaningful. As part of a final project, Tew and her classmates terminated cables, reformatted hard drives, installed new operating systems, and added computers to a domain.
“It wrapped up everything we learned this semester,” she said. “It pulled together skills from multiple chapters, and it felt like a real-world scenario.”
Beyond technical skills, Tew said she is most proud of the problem-solving abilities she has gained — both in her coursework and in life. That growth also shows in her campus involvement. Tew joined the Student Government Association, something she said would have felt out of reach before coming to MCC.
“I was not outgoing at all before MCC,” she said. “I wanted to change that. The opportunity came up, and I just went for it.”
Her involvement on campus, along with a part-time job and a student assistantship, has helped her grow as a leader and communicator. “Being involved has helped me make new friends and connections,” she said. “It’s made my experience here so much better.”
Balancing two majors, student government, and work has required discipline, but Tew credits her success to passion.
“To be successful, you have to want to be there,” she said. “I love everything I’m involved in, and that’s why I’m able to manage it all.”
After graduating in May, Tew plans to transfer to a university to pursue a bachelor’s degree in computer science, cybersecurity or possibly both.
“I’m very confident that MCC has prepared me for the next step,” she said.
For students who are unsure about heading straight to a university, Tew offers simple advice. “If you’re on the fence or not sure what degree you want, MCC is the best place you could go,” she said. “MCC gave me room to grow and helped build my confidence for what comes next.”
For more information, visit meridiancc.edu.