Dr. Tom Huebner joins ranks with Pi Kappa Delta Order of Attainment recognition
Meridian Community College President Dr. Tom Huebner has been awarded the Pi Kappa Delta Order of Attainment.
Pi Kappa Delta is an international forensics honor society dedicated to promoting excellence in speech and debate. Its Order of Attainment was established in 2007 to honor the societal contributions of PKD alumni whose contributions range in global, national, or local in scope and reflect the role of forensics and Pi Kappa Delta in building life-long citizens.
In being named to this honor, Dr. Huebner joins educators, politicians, scientists, actors, journalists, and lawyers, including Edward R. Murrow, Ann Richards, Jerry Mitchell, James Belushi, Steven Hunt, Steven Beebe, and more. All were members of PKD and were recognized by the organization for work outside the speech and debate arena.
"This is a great honor for me," said Dr. Huebner when learning about the award announced at the organization's meeting in Phoenix, Arizona. "I invested so many years of my life in intercollegiate forensics and PKD, and being honored in this way makes me proud," he said.
"This award highlights the critical role of speech and debate in developing essential skills in our students. Joining the ranks of notable PKD alumni is a testament to the impact of our collective efforts in this field," he added.
Gina Jensen, historian and convention coordinator of Pi Kappa Delta, said the Order of Attainment is the highest award the organization presents to someone who has left forensics and has been high-achieving outside the field. "It's a very special award; we've only awarded it since 2007," she said.
Only five or fewer people are recognized every other year for the Order of Attainment, and Jensen described it as "a very elite class of people." She said of Dr. Huebner: "He's done so much, and we feel like he deserves it because of all the good work he has done throughout his entire career, inside and outside of forensics."
A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Dr. Huebner earned a bachelor's degree in communication and English from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri, a master's degree in speech communication from the University of Georgia, and a doctorate in communication from the University of Southern Mississippi. He also graduated from The University of Alabama's Community College Leadership Academy.
Dr. Huebner has been a collegiate communications instructor, a director of speech and debate, dean of admissions, vice president of enrollment management, and vice president of student affairs before becoming a community college president.
Throughout his career, Dr. Huebner has been described as an energetic instructor, an inspiring professor, a trusted mentor, and a visionary leader. He became the third president of Meridian Community College on July 1, 2018.
Since arriving at MCC, Dr. Huebner has had a tremendous impact. In addition to leading efforts to tell the MCC story and elevate the presence of the institution, he has worked to secure multiple grants, including substantial awards for advanced manufacturing, has developed relationships with industry and educational partners, moved the College to establish many new industry-relevant programs, renovated campus facilities, implemented a new strategic planning process and received the President's Paragon Award and the Shirley B. Gordon Award from Phi Theta Kappa, the international academic honor society for community and junior colleges.
He's also been selected as a member of the first class of the Top 10 Over 50 for Meridian and Lauderdale County by The Meridian Star in its Timeless magazine. Dr. Huebner also was recognized by the Mississippi Business Journal as one of Mississippi's Top CEOs.
Joining Dr. Huebner in this year's PKD's Order of Attainment recognition are Ricardo Falla, ambassador of Ecuador in Canada, and Steven LaChance, author and television personality. Two deceased PKD members, economist Leland Jenks and author Elisabeth Elliot, are also acknowledged as Order of Attainment recipients.
For over 100 years, PKD's 100,000-plus members have pursued "The Art of Persuasion, Beautiful and Just." In addition to its civic engagement and advocacy activities, Pi Kappa Delta hosts a comprehensive national tournament each year, sponsors a professional development conference, and publishes a scholarly journal, The Forensic.
For more information, visit meridiancc.edu.