MGCCC adopts Galveston College after Hurricane Ike

Dr. Myles Shelton, left, president of Galveston College in Texas, received several presentations from Dr. Willis Lott, president of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, on Nov. 25 in Galveston. Gulf Coast employees and students adopted the college after Hurricane Ike hit the area in September 2008, causing damage to facilities and affecting the lives of employees and students. Gulf Coast, which is familiar with recovery efforts after Hurricane Katrina left her mark on infrastructure and employees’ and students’ lives in 2005, donated more than $5,700 for the benefit of Galveston College employees and students.

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College adopted Galveston College in Galveston, Texas, in the wake of Hurricane Ike, which hit Texas on Sept. 13, 2008. More than $5,700 in funds were raised for the benefit of the employees and students at Galveston College through contributions from Gulf Coast employees, students and football fans. Dr. Willis Lott, president of Gulf Coast, traveled to Galveston recently to make the presentations to Dr. Myles Shelton, president of Galveston College.

Galveston College, which is on the road to recovery, didn’t suffer from flooding, but many of the college’s students, faculty and staff were affected. Estimates are that 75 percent of the housing in Galveston was severely damaged or destroyed, making those homes uninhabitable. Many students were not able to return to college without assistance. Many employees remain displaced, without homes or adequate supplies.

“In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, we had some positive experiences, especially when we witnessed the compassion and generosity of institutions and individuals from around our state and nation,” Lott said. “Students and employees of colleges and universities from Maine to Washington helped our students and employees by giving financially, volunteering to clean up on campus and at our homes, and offering tuition-free classes to our displaced students. Now, it’s our turn to help.”