Women’s Foundation of Mississippi grant to continue to help MCC students
Holding a symbolic check, Kim Rush, left, and LaShundra Grady Grant are excited for the College receiving funds for the grant that supports female two-generation students.
For the second consecutive year, Meridian Community College has received a $25,000 grant from The Women's Foundation of Mississippi for the program, Connect2MCC, geared to help female two-generation students.
The Women’s Foundation of Mississippi is a public grant-making foundation focused on funding programs that support women and girls across the state.
Kimberly Rush, MCC associate dean of advising, retention, and student success, said, “We're very pleased to have it renewed. That means we did good work with the money they gave us previously."
The idea for the Connect2MCC program surfaced after seeing studies showing the need for students to have paraprofessional mentors. "There are many resources, at MCC and in Meridian and Lauderdale County, that those students may not be aware of," said Rush. Having a mentor who can advise and break down barriers can help students succeed.
The year-long grant is earmarked for female students who are supporting a child. Rush explained participating students will be expected to do monthly online sessions. "These are geared on healthy relationships, financial literacy, being able to balance work, life, school, all those things,” she said.
Students will also check in with the mentor, LaShundra Grady, MCC support services coordinator, once a month. A requirement added this year was meeting with a financial literacy coach. "We definitely want to up the ante for our students to understand the need for financial literacy,” Rush noted.
After completing all the requirements, students will be given a stipend, and for maintaining a 2.5-grade point average on a 4.0 scale, they will be gifted a laptop as a part of the grant.
Connect2MCC will continue through Nov. 30.
To learn more about Connect2MCC, contact Grady at 601.484.8836.