MGCCC News MGCCC GED grads reach milestone
“We believe that the addition of the caps and gowns has certainly added to the formality of the occasion,” said Anna Faye Kelley-Winders, Gulf Coast Community Campus vice president. “For many people, it is the highlight for their relatives, because they may be the first in their family to receive a high school diploma.” The event was half-ritual, half-rock concert. Even Rev. Mike Dobbs’s invocation received applause from the standing-room-only crowd. “Tonight is about getting loud and being proud of these graduates,” said Dr. Mary Graham, Perkinston Campus vice president. The graduates not only got their diplomas, but some also earned college scholarships. At Gulf Coast, students who earn a GED battery average score of 577 or higher are awarded a half-time scholarship for one semester covering a maximum of six semester hours, while those averaging a GED battery score of 450 to 576 are eligible to take one free class for one semester. Commencement speaker Sean Hodges had no problem relating to this audience. In 1990, the college’s Geo-I-Tech Community Campus project director received his GED in much the same manner. “It’s a great door that you’ve opened in your life,” said Hodges. “Consider what makes a difference in your community, and look at what you can do tomorrow.” For GED graduate Gwen Kaufman, tomorrow used to mean taking care of her five children. But now, the 54-year-old sees a different path. “It got to where my five children were raised, and I became a grandmother,” Kaufman said. “My life changed, so I decided to do something that I never got to finish. As I got older, I really regretted dropping out of school. So I worked up enough nerve to come and get my GED. Not only did I get my GED, I also learned how to ride a motorcycle.” Perhaps the most telling story of success is that of 26-year-old Sharon Pierce. For her, the road to graduation was filled with heartache, determination, and persistence. “I quit high school, got married, and had children,” said Pierce. Then in 2005 her father, Stone County sherriff’s deputy Odell Fite, was killed in the line of duty. Pierce said that tragedy served as a motivator for her to get her GED. “My dad always wanted me to graduate, go to college, and make something of my life,” she said. “This is a great opportunity form me. I wasn’t able to walk across the stage with my high school class, but this is the next best thing. My two kids are sitting in the audience, so this will set a good example for them. I feel proud of myself for the first time in a long time.” The only thing missing, said Pierce, was her father. “My dad would be very proud,” she said. “I wish he could be here to see me, but I know he’s watching from Heaven.”
The one constant during the May 15 ceremony held at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum was the tone set by guest speaker Fred Haise, who told the graduates “today is your beginning.” Haise, a 1952 graduate of Perkinston Junior College, is also a 1970 Gulf Coast Alumni Hall of Fame inductee. As he reminisced with the 800 graduates in attendance about his days with NASA and his days the lunar module pilot on the aborted Apollo 13 mission in 1970, he said, “We truly believed failure was not an option. Many times school kids ask me if I was scared and if I thought I was going to die, and I always tell them that the education and training we had gave us confidence.” Confidence and hope was the norm for Gulf Coast graduates like Eric Shoemaker, who attended the college’s Perkinston Campus and helped create the SAVE (Students Against Violating the Earth) Club. The SAVE Club spearheaded the college’s “Go Green” Project. “I didn’t think I would do as much as I did,” Shoemaker said. “With the SAVE Club, I saw a need, and I helped fulfill that need.” For other graduates like Jenna Latil and Miles Quave, commencement marked the halfway point for both in terms of education, but a new beginning in their relationship. Latil and Quave have been dating since high school, but Jenna plans to attend The University of Southern Mississippi-Gulf Coast, while Quave plans on attending USM’s Hattiesburg Campus. Both attended the college’s Jackson County Campus. Quave graduated with Honors, while Latil graduated with Special Honors. “We’ll see how it goes for us,” Quave said. “This is a milestone for both of us. It’s kind of bittersweet, with her staying on the Coast, and me going to Hattiesburg. Latil agreed and added that her time at Gulf Coast exposed her to organizations such as Alpha Beta Gamma and the National Honor Society. “Going to Gulf Coast was a great experience,” she said. “Tonight is big, because my grandparents are getting older, and they wanted to experience this with me.” While Quave and Latil plan to continue their education at the next level, Gulf Coast graduates like Tiffany Warren are already headed into the workforce. The Gulfport resident attended the college’s Jefferson Davis Campus and is hoping to land a job in the medical field. “I have a 2 and-a-half-year old daughter, and getting a better job will help us,” Warren said. “Today is the best part. I knew I could finish, but I didn’t know I’d do so well.” Neither did Micah Harris. He attended the JC Campus and graduated from Gulf Coast with Special Honors. “This is the start of my new life,” he said. “I’ve got three job possibilities in three different fields. I feel great.” Haise also echoed those sentiments, and urged Gulf Coast graduates to take advantage of a new beginning by using a quote from the comic strip character Ziggy. “Today is your beginning,” he said. “Today is the first day of your life. You’d better get busy.” ATEA recognizes MGCCC students, employees
Jeremy Hess is one of six students chosen for the ATEA Outstanding Technical Student Award, an honor presented to people enrolled full-time in a postsecondary educational program. A student at Gulf Coast’s Jefferson Davis Campus, he is pursuing an associate’s degree in both Computer Networking and Technology and Network Security Technology. He’s also maintained a 4.0 GPA, made the President’s List, and received the Tri-MEC Scholarship each semester. “Jeremy is an ideal student who pushes his peers to learn and excel in everything they do both inside and outside the classroom,” said a fellow student. “He sets the bar high for himself and encourages his fellow students to meet challenges with him.” Elana Myers, a Computer Networking instructor at the college’s JD Campus, was one of nine people nominated for the ATEA’S 2008 Outstanding Technical Teacher Award. Myers also maintains the Microsoft Server Domain for the CIST department. She’s also taught preparatory courses for secondary schools in the college district, and her previous experience as a web and network administrator has enabled her to simulate real-world experiences in the classroom. “Elana is by far one of the most dependable instructors I’ve ever had the privilege of working with, and she’s always ready to help out in any capacity,” said Dr. Beverly Clark, assistant dean of Career and Technical programs at the JD Campus. “When students begin to doubt their own abilities, she inspires them to keep learning.” Anna Faye Kelley-Winders, Gulf Coast’s Community Campus vice president, has spent more than 30 years at the college as an instructor and administrator. She is also on the college’s Executive Council. After Hurricane Katrina, Kelley-Winders used her business, industry, and government contacts to set up partnerships between Gulf Coast and national, state, and government agencies, private foundations, trade organizations, and other industries to develop cutting-edge career and technical training programs. Within two months, the college launched two rapid-response training programs to alleviate workforce shortages and assist in the Gulf Coast’s rebuilding efforts. She’s also served as president of several organizations, including Delta Kappa Gamma, Lucedale Rotary Club, and Mississippi Post-Secondary Career-Technical Deans and Directors. MGCCC’S Polk earns International Institute for Public Policy Fellow
“I feel extremely lucky and blessed,” Polk said. “Only a few students out of thousands who apply for this fellowship get it, so it’s a major accomplishment. I still can’t believe I got it.” Students accepted into the IIPP Fellowship Program begin their journey with a seven-week Sophomore Summer Policy Institute (SSPI), hosted by Spelman College, one of the premier liberal arts institutions in the country. The SSPI introduces Fellows to the basics of international policy development, foreign affairs, cultural competence, careers in these fields, and options for graduate study. To assist Fellows in putting what they learn at the SSPI into context, they participate in study missions to Washington, D.C., and New York, N.Y., through briefings at the Department of Education, the Department of State, and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), as well as with such organizations as the Council on Foreign Relations, the United Nations and the World Bank. After IIPP Fellows successfully complete the Sophomore Summer Policy Institute, they participate in IIPP’s Junior Year Study Abroad component. Following their junior year abroad, IIPP Fellows attend the Junior Summer Policy Institute (JSPI) at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy. The JSPI includes seven weeks of intensive, graduate-level work in international relations and foreign policy on such topics as security, development, economics and trade, and statistics. Coursework is designed to prepare Fellows for successful admission to and completion of graduate school. “Deeneaus is a very well-rounded and capable individual who has proven to be an indispensable part of our Honors Program, campus, and community,” said Dr. MaryAnn Sison, JC Campus social studies instructor. “He has a keen insight for the needs of the people around him and is always eager to plan and participate in service projects. He has already distinguished himself in this regard far beyond the contributions made by his peers. “Obviously, he is well-respected by students, faculty, and administrators,” Sison continued. “Deeneaus has embraced the responsibility of serving as a role-model for young people. But in reality, his energy, selflessness, optimism, and integrity are an example to all ages. Overall he has proven to be one of the most responsible, dedicated, and pleasant students with whom I have dealt with in the many years that I have taught at the university and college level.” Deeneaus, or “D” as he’s called, will graduate from Gulf Coast on May 15, 2008. During his time at the college, D has arguably achieved more than 10 people could do in a lifetime. For instance, during the summer of 2006, D visited with President George W. Bush when he spoke at the college’s graduation, he earned the prestigious $1,000 Coca-Cola Scholarship designed to empower today’s youth; and he visited Germany. Polk earned a visit with the nation’s commander in chief after he had won the President’s Freedom Corps Volunteer Award, an honor given to people who make volunteering and helping others a priority. “Some people dream about their future, but D is making his future what he wants it to be,” said Dr. Willis Lott, Gulf Coast president. “We know that D will do a great job and we are very proud of him.” Polk also plans on attending The University of Mississippi after graduating from Gulf Coast. Recently he also found out that he has earned a Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, which is part of a program designed to help community college students with exceptional promise and demonstrated financial need make the transition to four-year colleges and universities. “I never would’ve dreamed that I could accomplish so much at Gulf Coast,” he said. MGCCC’S Irvin Favre Showcase Classic set for June 21
The two-day event will feature a VIP Pairings Party and Silent Auction June 20 at the Island View and golf at 11 a.m. on June 21 at Windance. “Every golfer on the Gulf Coast will want to play in this fabulous event,” said Tommy Snell, Gulf Coast golf coach. “It’s a must-play event honoring someone who meant so much to athletes and students on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.” Star athlete turned coach/mentor to kids Most know Favre from his 28 years in coaching, 24 of those in the Hancock County School District. At Hancock North Central High School, he coached all three of his sons, Scott, Jeff, and Brett, who went on to become the legendary NFL quarterback who led the Green Bay Packers to the Super Bowl XXXI title. However the elder Favre, a Gulfport native, played football and baseball from 1964-65 at what was then Perkinston Junior College. While at Perk, Favre was part of the 64-65 football teams under head coach Ken “Curley” Farris. On the baseball diamond, also coached by Farris, Favre helped lead the Bulldogs to South Division titles in 1964 and 1965. “This is all about Irvin Favre, a star athlete while he was here, who has never been honored as he should,” said Jere Hess, Gulf Coast associate vice president for Development. “He’s not in our Athletic Hall of Fame, because when he was contacted each year by our archivist Charles Sullivan, he would not respond with the information about his athletic accomplishments. That is so like Irv. He didn’t mind telling you about his kids and their awards, but when the subject came around to him, he would change it. He was not into self-promotion. That is why naming this tournament after him is so fitting.” Irvin Favre Showcase Classic to raise money for academic/athletic scholarships Showcase, which is entering its 18th year of existence, raises scholarship money for Gulf Coast students. “It has always been successful,” Hess added, “but with the Irvin Favre name attached to it, the sky is the limit. I know his many friends will want to make this tribute to Irvin as successful as it can be.” During his time at Perk, Irvin Favre had many big moments on the baseball diamond, and on the gridiron. Among many highlights was a 1964 baseball game against Clarke, where he pitched a shutout and smacked the game-winning home run in a 1-0 win. During that same year, Favre played defensive back on the football team and set a team record with four interceptions. Off the field, he was going to school and dating Bonita French, who would later become his wife for 38 years until his death in 2003. Favre hits home run “I met Irvin while at Perk,” Bonita Favre said. “It was at a party in Pass Christian and Jimmy Benigno introduced us. Jimmy was the quarterback on Perk football team. Irvin proposed to me on the Perk baseball field! For us, our times at Perk were the beginning of it all.” Sponsorships for the Irvin Favre Classic are as follows: Silver Sponsor/$1,000: Includes six tickets to the pairings party and a sponsorship sign at the golf tournament. Gold Sponsor/$2,000: Includes a team in the golf tournament, 10 tickets to the pairings party, and a sponsorship sign at the golf tournament. Platinum Sponsor/$25,000 (Only five available): Includes a team in the golf tournament, 10 tickets to the pairings party, and a sponsorship sign at the golf tournament, and VIP passes to a private dinner with Brett and Deanna Favre and the entire Favre Family at Emeril’s Gulf Coast Fish House. “It’s such an honor to have this event in my father’s name,” said Brett, a three-time NFL Most Valuable Player during his playing days in Green Bay. “My relationship with my dad meant so much to me, and I’m overwhelmed and proud to be a part of this event.” All proceeds for the event will go toward scholarships for Gulf Coast students and to the Brett Favre Fourward Foundation. For more information contact Dee Dee Hatten, Gulf Coast Alumni/Foundation secretary, at 601-928-6344, or e-mail her at dena.hatten@mgccc.edu, or contact Tommy Snell, Gulf Coast golf coach, at 601-528-8952, or e-mail him at thomas.snell@mgccc.edu. “Brett Favre’s commitment to giving back to our community---a legacy he shared with his father, makes it an honor for Island View Casino Resort and Windance to serve as the main sponsors of this wonderful event,” said Rick Carter, Island View owner. “Brett is a fine example of what we as Mississippians can do in this world, and I have deep respect and appreciation for him and his entire family.” MGCCC honors student organization competition winners
SKILLS USA-VICA CLUBS OF AMERICA Jackson County Campus First Place: Marine Service Technology, Dale Caughorn (Vancleave) Jefferson Davis Campus First Place: Occupational Health and Safety-Multiple, Michelle Schifano (Gulfport) Perkinston Campus First Place: Computer Maintenance Technology, Ronald Ballard (Saucier) George County Center First Place: Cosmetology, Dayshla Garrett, (Lucedale) Secondary Students: First Place: CNC Milling, Justin Saegert (Long Beach) Secondary Students:
Delta Epsilon Chi (DECA) Jefferson Davis Campus First Place: Internet Marketing, Harmony Raffeo (Long Beach)
Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) Jefferson Davis Campus First Place: Accounting Principles, Timothy White (Pearlington) Perkinston Campus First Place: Web Site Development, Dustin Malley (Gulfport)
Future Business Leaders of America George County Center
Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) First Place: Prepared Speaking, Angela Ayres (Long Beach)
George County Center First Place: Administrative Medical Assisting, Sherry Lummus (Lucedale) Secondary Students:
American Society for Clinical Laboratory Sciences of MS and LA
Jackson County Campus First Place: ASCLS Student Bowl, Briana Royals (Saucier) MGCCC to present “The 11th Hour” The Perk Campus’s SAVE (Students Against Violating the Earth) Club will present multiple showings of, April 27-28 at Malone Hall on the college’s Perkinston Campus. “We are very excited to have this opportunity to show our students and the community this important film,” said John Speed, Gulf Coast SAVE Club advisor. “The Salvation Army and the Stone County Economic Development Partnership made it possible through donations, so we can’t thank them enough.” The Perkinston Campus kicked off its own Go Green Project Jan. 31. “Stone County is one of the first in Mississippi to go green,” said Michelle Sekul, Perkinston Campus dean of Student Services. “Gulf Coast is proud to help create a culture of environmental responsibility on our campuses and throughout South Mississippi.” During the two-month event, students held recycling competitions and learned more about environmentally friendly ways to conserve energy and recycle everyday products. Recycling bins were also placed at several Perk Campus locations. The Go Green Project culminates with “The 11th Hour” movie presentations. “We’re happy to partner with Gulf Coast as we move into the 21st century,” said Charlotte Koestler, Stone County EDP executive director. “Stone County is taking the lead in Mississippi in protecting our environment for ourselves and our future citizens. Education of our residents is important. It creates awareness, which results in a pro-active community.” Show times for “The 11th Hour” at the Perk Campus are: Sunday, April 27th – 1:30pm Sunday, April 27th – 9:00pm Monday, April 28th -8:00pm On Monday, April 28, “The 11th Hour” will also be shown at the JD Campus at 12:00 p.m. in the Commons area. On Tuesday, April 29, the film will be shown in the Arena Theatre at 12:30 p.m. and also at 6:30 p.m. The community is invited to the showings on April 29. At JD, the event will be hosted by Phi Theta Kappa and the JD Student Activities Association. Fred Haise to speak at 2008 MGCCC graduation
Haise, a 1952 graduate of Perkinston Junior College, is also a 1970 Gulf Coast Alumni Hall of Fame inductee. “It’s a tremendous thrill for our students, our college and our state to host Fred Haise at the most important event of our academic year,” said Dr. Willis Lott, Gulf Coast president. “His outstanding achievements as an astronaut and the fact that he is a native of South Mississippi and part of our Gulf Coast family truly make graduation 2008 a special event for everyone involved.” Haise’s 20-year NASA career began as an aeronautical research pilot at Lewis Research Center in 1959. Further assignments were held as a research pilot at the NASA Flight Research Center in 1963 and as an astronaut at Johnson Space Center in 1966. He served as backup crew for the Apollo 8, 11 and 16 missions. He flew as the lunar module pilot on the aborted Apollo 13 mission in 1970, a mission that was dramatized in the 1995 Ron Howard movie "Apollo 13." He also flew five flights as the commander of the Space Shuttle Enterprise in 1977 for the Approach and Landing Test Program at Edwards Air Force Base. Among his awards are the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Haley Astronautics Award, the General Thomas D. White Space Trophy, the Society of Experimental Test Pilots Kinchloe "Test Pilot of the Year" Award, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, the NASA Exceptional Service Award, the NASA Special Achievement Award, the Aerospace Walk of Honor and the US Astronaut Hall of Fame. Haise is an associate fellow of the AIAA and fellow of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and the American Astronautical Society, and is a member of Tau Beta Pi, Sigma Gamma Tau and Phi Theta Kappa honor societies. He currently resides in Pasadena, Texas, with his wife, the former Patt Price of Rogers, Texas. Approximately 800 students and 350 faculty and administration will participate in this year’s ceremony. MGCCC receives $30,000 donation from Gulfport Memorial Hospital
"These scholarships are named for Rev. E.L. Howard and Mrs. Geneva Howard, who have combined for 110 years of voluntary service to the hospital", said Peter Psikogios, president of Gulfport Memorial Auxiliary. "We are so grateful that you included the three technology programs as well as nursing because the need for scholarship help is across the entire medical field,” said Jere Hess, Gulf Coast’s associate vice president for Development. “With this gift the members of the Auxiliary are making a positive difference in the lives of our medical students as well as their future patients. We thank you for caring and for sharing this wonderful gift". Rev. E.L. Howard and Geneva Howard were also recognized for their continuing voluntary service. MGCCC employees get “2 4 1” deal
“The idea is you get two of life back when you walk for one hour…two for one,” said Karen Stennis, Health and Physical Education instructor at the JD Campus. “We hope this will evolve into an everyday thing for college employees.” American Heart Association walk director Christin Lebeouf said the walking idea is also catching on at other businesses. “Bigger corporations and other companies are also doing this,” she said. “They say thanks to more exercise, their employees have more creativity, better attitudes, and increased productivity.” On Saturday, April 26, The JD Campus group will also hold its annual Heart Walk. In 2007, the group collected $15,000 in donations. Registration for that event begins at 7 a.m. and the walk begins at 8:30 a.m. on the west side of the JD Campus. MGCCC students receive Community College Presidential Scholarships One of the many goals at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is to send its students off to four-year universities with the best academic training possible. This spring five Gulf Coast students plan to move on with some financial help from Gulf Coast President Dr. Willis Lott. Adrienne Gannon and Jordan Holder of Gulfport, Katherine Guthrie of Perkinston, Stephanie Maxwell of Ocean Springs, and Chelsea Tyner of Long Beach have all received Community College Presidential Partnership Scholarships. Next fall, Holder, Maxwell and Tyner are all headed to The University of Southern Mississippi, while Gannon and Guthrie will be attending college at Mississippi State University. “These are truly outstanding students who have been very involved in their campus activities,” Lott said. “We appreciate the financial assistance these institutions are providing for these community college students to complete their educational goals.” Maxwell (3.55 GPA) attends the college’s Jackson County Campus; Gannon (3.78 GPA) and Tyner (3.54 GPA) attend the Jefferson Davis Campus; and Holder (4.0 GPA) and Guthrie (3.93 GPA) attend the Perkinston Campus. “Gulf Coast is fortunate to have such outstanding students who contribute to our educational programs,” added Lott. “We look forward to hearing of their continued success as transfer students.” According to the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges, nearly 70 percent of all freshmen enrolled in Mississippi post-secondary institutions attend a community or junior college, while one out of three students who earn an Associate of Arts degree at a community or junior college end up transferring to a four-year college or university. MACJC 2008 Sports Hall of Fame Inductees
New inductees are nominated by the fifteen (15) individual community colleges. They include the following:
Coahoma Community College
Copiah-Lincoln Community College
East Central Community College
East Mississippi Community College
Hinds Community College
Holmes Community College
Itawamba Community College
Jones County Junior College
Meridian Community College
Mississippi Delta Community College
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
Northeast Mississippi Community College
Northwest Mississippi Community College
Pearl River Community College
Southwest Mississippi Community College Registration and reception will begin at 6:00 p.m. with the banquet to follow at 7:00 p.m. MGCCC 2008 Inductees Curtis Lee Davis Born September 15, 1927 in Vancleave, Ms. Davis learned to play tennis as a youngster on homemade dirt courts in his hometown. He played basketball while attending Perkinston Junior College from 1946-48. At Miss. State College (1948-1950), Davis played tennis, advancing to the semifinals in Southeastern Conference play in 950, a first for his college. Davis began his work career at Perk in 1950 as a vocational/technical instructor and soon became the tennis coach. In nine seasons, Davis’s men’s and women’s teams went 72-2-2, and earned seven state championships. On May 14, 2001, that enviable record won him induction as a member in the National Junior College Athletic Hall of Fame. In recognition of his contributions, the college awarded him the prestigious Sam Owen Trophy at the 1994 Homecoming. On August 16, 2005, the Aquatic, Physical Education and Health Building at the Jackson County Campus was named in honor of Davis. It was only the second building at JC named in honor of an individual. He was also a charter member of the MGCCC Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999. Ed Evans Evans lettered in football for four years at Perkinston Agricultural High School, and he lettered in football for two years at Perkinston Junior College. He also played basketball and baseball, and ran track. He was twice named first-team All-State in football, and was a member of Perk’s 1948 State and Co-National Championship football team. He played end for two years at Mississippi State College, and played one year of service football at Fort Jackson, S.C. Evans returned to Perkinston and began coaching in 1956. Three years later, he became the head football coach. In 1961 he served as line coach of the east squad which defeated the West squad in the All-American Junior College Bowl in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He left coaching in 1962 to become an administrator. He retired in 1991, and in 1996 the MGCCC Alumni Association awarded Evans the Sam Owen Award for outstanding service to the college. Evans was also a charter member of the MGCCC Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999. George Sekul, Ken “Curley” Farris, and Bob Weathers were all 2007 MACJC Sports Hall of Fame inductees from Gulf Coast. MGCCC student organizations receive community-service awards
“I am extremely proud of these student organizations and their advisers for the work they’ve done in our community,” said Dr. Willis Lott, Gulf Coast president. “All of them have made a positive difference in peoples’ lives by caring for the needs of others and excelling beyond the classroom.” The winners were Alpha Beta Gamma (Jackson County Campus, Rebecca Rutz, adviser), Wesley Foundation (Jefferson Davis Campus, Janis Slade, adviser), and Phi Theta Kappa (Perkinston Campus, Gayle Greene-Aguirre, adviser). “I was impressed with the commitment to community service demonstrated by the student organizations on each Gulf Coast campus,” Alexander said. “Projects and activities chosen by the clubs reflected student members’ knowledge and the specific needs of the various agencies. Gulf Coast students and club sponsors volunteer hundreds of hours for the benefit of their communities by preparing and serving meals at Loaves & Fishes, planting gardens, and providing clothing for the homeless. Their contributions are significant.” Biloxi News a historical find for South Mississippi
On March 31, 2008, Cheri Dillard, who owned the Dixie Press after Rand, and who now makes her home in Hattiesburg, showed up at the office of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College archivist and Professor Emeritus Charles Sullivan with a bound volume of old newspapers that belonged to Rand. Both Dillard and Sullivan expected the newspapers to bear the masthead Guide, but upon opening the volume, they discovered that the newspapers bore the title The Biloxi News. The first issue in the volume was Volume 1, No. 1, March 21, 1926, and the last issue in the volume was Volume 1, No. 52, March 13, 1927. Neither Dillard nor Sullivan could figure out why Clayton Rand had kept this volume---until they looked at the name of the editor, Clayton Rand. None of the biographies and obituaries of Rand mention that he ever published a newspaper called The Biloxi News. Another amazing facet to this story is that Rand began publication of The Guide on Sept. 17, 1925, and then began publishing The Biloxi News on March 21, 1926, scarcely six months later. “If Rand billed The Guide as the first illustrated newspaper in Mississippi, then The Biloxi News must have been the second, because it has just as many illustrations as The Guide did,” Sullivan said. “The Guide was published weekly and The Biloxi News was a Sunday paper — the first such in Mississippi Gulf Coast history.” Sullivan also pointed out that on Sunday, Feb. 20, 1927, The Biloxi News claimed another first — color comics. “There was no indication in the last issue of the volume that the paper was ceasing publication,” he said. “Actually, there was a big push to garner more subscribers. Rand obviously published the paper for a longer period than this volume contains, but we do not know how much longer.” The original copies of The Biloxi News will soon be handed over to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, but not until Sullivan and others enjoy taking in the historical morsels from another source of Coast history. “It’s one of those instances when you don’t know what you have,” Sullivan said. “And when you realize what it is, you understand that it has to be shared with the rest of the world.” MGCCC Perk Players to present “Laughter on the 23rd Floor”  Trae Spears, Jordan Davis, Drew Paslay, Jessica Taylor in MGCCC’S Perk Players production of Neil Simon’s “Laughter on the 23rd Floor.”
Brief Description of play: Inspired by Simon's early career experience as a junior joke smith (along with his brother Danny, Larry Gelbart, Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, and a precocious young talent called Woody Allen) for Your Show of Shows, the play focuses on Sid Caesar/Jackie Gleason-like Max Prince, the star of a weekly comedy-variety show circa 1953 and his staff. Simon's alter-ego Lucas Brickman maintains a running commentary on the writing, fighting, and wacky antics which take place in the writers' room. At the plot's core is Max's ongoing battles with NBC executives . The network bosses want Max to dumb down his show so that middle America gets the jokes and the advertisers can sell more soap. Meanwhile, Senator Joe McCarthy is scaring the pants off the country with his 'reds-under-the-beds' paranoia. Laughter on the 23rd Floor is Simon’s hilarious and touching behind-the-scenes homage to the golden age of American television and the crazy writers' room that became known as 'the Harvard of comedy'.
Emmitt Till exhibit at MGCCC serves as powerful history lesson
“It’s an important educational tool for our students and our community,” said Gwendolyn Carter, JC Campus librarian. “Mississippi has come along way since 1955, but we don’t want to forget where we’ve been. It’s important for all of us to know this part of history, so we can learn from it and keep moving forward. ” The display, which features 10 panels, each with it’s own theme, The panels contain newspaper accounts, photos, and written letters concerning the death of Emmitt Till and the trial of his killers. Delta State University, with help from the Mississippi Humanities Council and the national Endowment for the Humanities, put together the exhibit. Till, a 14-year-old African-American from Chicago, was visiting relatives in the tiny Delta town of Money in 1955, when he was kidnapped an murdered by two local men for allegedly whistling at a white woman in a local store. The two men accused of the crime, Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam, were tried for the murder in Sumner, but were eventually acquitted by an all-white jury. According to the gallery guide, “the outrage around the country was instantaneous. Emmitt Till had become a symbol for a fledgling Civil Rights Movement. The voice of 1955’s citizens of America, Europe, and Asia sound off, offering their opinions and views on the murder and trial of young Emmitt Till and his murderers. The hand-written and typed letters placed throughout the exhibit offer a glimpse into the opinions of individuals. The newspaper clippings offer glaring headlines as newspapermen, radio, and television broadcasts kept pace of every new development and detail.” The Emmitt Till exhibit is on display at the JC Campus every Monday-Thursday, from 7:30 a.m. – 8 p.m., and on Fridays from 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. until April 21. Admission is free. New academic facility planned for MGCCC’s George County Center
“We’re proud of the progress made in George County,” said Arlie Howell, Gulf Coast Board of Trustees secretary. “We’re also impressed with the improvements that this new facility will bring to this center.” Chris Albritton Construction Co. will build the new facility, which was designed by Guild Hardy Architects. “The college is excited with the growth this new classroom building will bring to the George County Center,” said Dr. Mary Graham, vice president of the college’s Perkinston Campus and George County Center. “The citizens of George County will certainly benefit from new offerings that will be provided as a result of this state-of-the-art facility.” Currently, the George County Center offers both postsecondary and secondary career programs, including Cosmetology, Electric Lineman Training, Office Systems Technology, and Practical Nursing and Surgical Technology. MGCCC Estuarine Education Center opens at JC Campus
“We want to educate people, and at the same time preserve the environment,” said Dr. Rick Christmas, Jackson County Campus Vice-President. The whole concept came out of an educational and environmental idea that began in 1999 and is in the final stages of being implemented. At the JC Campus, 34 acres of land have been developed for a laundry list of projects, while at the same time keeping the area’s woodlands and wetlands intact. “It’s Part of the Pascagoula River basin,” said Christmas. “All of that ties into the project.” The facility features an Outdoor Recreation Leadership Center on the banks of Mary Walker Bayou, a Marine Technology Facility, a 1 ½ mile walking trail and the Learning Ropes Challenge Course, which opened in the fall of 2006. “Learning about marine science has never been more important,” said Janice Cooley, Science instructor at the JC Campus. “As our coastal population continues to increase, so does our need to learn more about our coastal waters. Having a marine science class located on Mary Walker Bayou provides students an opportunity to study firsthand the normal physical parameters of a brackish estuary. Estuaries are extremely important – they are the nursery grounds for all of our recreational fishers and 90 percent of our commercial fishers. The building is located on a pristine estuary that allows students to actually see the characteristics of an estuary. It also lends to numerous labs where students can monitor the health of the estuary and initiate data collection which is synonymous with research.” DeDual, Towles earn NACADA awards The National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) recently honored Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College employees Chris DeDual and Roxanne Towles with Region IV Merit Awards. NACADA’S Region IV consists of Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and parts of the Caribbean including Puerto Rico. Dedual, the Developmental Studies department chairperson and instructor at the college’s Jefferson Davis Campus, was recognized as a Region IV 2008 Outstanding Faculty Academic Advisor. “Whether it is summer orientation sessions, evening orientation sessions for General Education Degree and home schooled students, or orientations for online students, Chris is always there to assist,” said Karla Smith, Social Studies instructor at the JD Campus. “He realizes that making personal contact early on with students is essential to the retention and advisement of students. During our final and late registration sessions that are held each semester, he works specifically with those students who are undecided about their major. He truly cares about the needs of students here at Gulf Coast.” Towles, a Student Services counselor and adjunct instructor at the JD Campus, was honored as a Region IV Outstanding Academic Advisor. “As a very important member of our career center staff, Roxanne not only brings energy, professionalism, and an irreproachable work ethic to the work place, but she also spreads warmth, humor, and empathy, when needed, to both students and her fellow workers, ” said Denise Daniel, Student Services counselor at the JD Campus. Pugh set to be new VP at MGCCC JC Campus
“I am very excited to be returning to Gulf Coast,” said Pugh. “When I began my career in 1994 as an instructor on the JC Campus, I never dreamed that I would one day have the opportunity to serve as its vice president. I am truly humbled by the confidence that the Board of Trustees, Gulf Coast president Dr. Lott, and the college’s Executive Council has in me. I will work as hard as I can every day for the college, the community and most important of all, for our Gulf Coast students.” Pugh replaces the retiring Dr. Rick Christmas, who’s been vice president at the JC Campus since May, 2002. During his tenure, the campus developed into a significant business and community player in the Jackson County area. Several renovation and construction projects were completed, new programs of study were added, and the college’s state-of-the-art Estuarine Education Center was conceived and built on the campus. “I was fortunate enough to be part of this fantastic team during these positive times,” Christmas said. “Our major accomplishment has been re-establishing a sense of trust and teamwork among the JC Campus employees, which has fostered more positive attitudes and a significant increase in morale. The establishment of “tobacco-free zones” and development of the Estuarine Education Center should have long-lasting effects on the lives of our employees, students, and the community.” Since his time at Gulf Coast as an instructor, Pugh has served in a number of positions at the Mississippi State Board for Community and Junior Colleges (MSBCJC), including his most recent term as associate executive director for Workforce, Career and Technical Education. “We had an extremely competitive number of applicants to follow Dr. Christmas as the vice president of the JC Campus,” said Dr. Willis Lott, Gulf Coast president. “From that pool, we are truly excited to have Jason returning to the Gulf Coast family as the leader at JC. He is very competent, knows the communities that we serve, the mission of the college, and is excited to be returning home in this new leadership role. I know that everyone at Gulf Coast joins me in welcoming him home as we look forward to serving the people of George, Harrison, Jackson, and Stone counties.” Pugh also worked with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and at the Georgia Institute of Technology Research Institute. “The faculty and staff at Gulf Coast are truly professionals who are at the top of their industry,” said Pugh. “This professionalism is demonstrated both state-wide and nationally.” Pugh and his wife Deanna have two children; Rachel, 10, and Michael, 8. He currently resides in Florence. MGCCC salutes 2008 Difference Maker Award honorees They demonstrate an exceptional work ethic, a deep sense of college and community involvement, and a tremendous commitment to the students. Each year four outstanding Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College employees earn the L.N. Dantzler Difference Maker Award for their tireless work at Gulf Coast. Since 2003, Gulf Coast has selected Difference Makers from among its eight locations in South Mississippi. Any Gulf Coast employee, except members of the Executive Council, are eligible for the annual award, which is designated for individuals who have demonstrated an exceptional work ethic, college and community involvement, and a sincere commitment and caring attitude toward students. Dr. Willis Lott, president of Gulf Coast, said the Difference Makers “put the college mission into action by providing the best in customer service and by making a positive difference in the lives of those they touch. They live the college mission in the office, at home, at church, at the grocery store…everywhere they go, their role as a Gulf Coast recruiter never stops.” Debra Rogers/Central Business Office
“It was kind of a unique situation when two people from the same office receive these awards,” Rogers said. “We’ve worked together for so long each of us knows what the other is thinking.” So it’s no coincidence that Both Rogers and Bryan are retiring this year. “I have many experiences and memories, but I think the most memorable are the ones of friendship and support I have received during difficult periods,” Rogers said. “My co-workers are my friends and family. We work well together. We laugh and cry together.” Although her family at work has been an important facet of her life, Rogers said her parents are the ones that have truly served as her inspiration all these years. “They instilled my belief in God and taught me priorities and responsibility,” she said. Not only has she been with Gulf Coast for 28 years, but she’s also been married to her husband Dale for that amount of time. No matter if it’s her family at home, or her extended family at work, Rogers is praised for her dedication and commitment to excellence.“Her knowledge of our budget is a tremendous help to me,” said Jerry Bryan. “She knows what’s right and what’s wrong with the budget, as well as other financial issues involving the college. She never complains…she just gets the job done.” After her retirement from Gulf Coast, Rogers said she plans on working part-time with the Junior College Federal Credit Union. She also plans to become involved with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. William Martin/Jackson County Campus
“If we talk to them and treat them like adults, then they will respond like adults,” Martin said. He also suggested the college could better serve its students by knowing where to send them for help and by remembering to always be friendly with them. For Martin, the more things change, the more they stay the same…like focusing on customer service, and keeping his professional attitude despite the ever-changing world around him. Many of his colleagues said Martin has been the one constant at JC in four decades worth of changes. “He is always consistent and fair to everyone,” said Marilyn Moss, Language Arts department chairperson at JC. “He’s been able to make intelligent decisions based on years of seeing changes and the effects of those changes on our system.” JC Campus math instructor Raymond Tanner agrees. “He and I have worked through four vice presidents,” Tanner said. “He is devoted to the college and its employees. He makes decisions based on what he thinks is best for the college, and not what is best for him.” After graduating from Perkinston Junior College in 1962 with an associate’s degree in drafting and design, it seemed architecture would be martin’s calling. Martin said he was most inspired in his career and life by Bob Slaughter, who owned an architecture company that employed Martin. “Working for Bob taught me time management, professionalism and the expectations of the working world,” he said. But after receiving three degrees all related to education, a career at Gulf Coast became the perfect fit. “Any person who devotes his career to an organization and educational institution for more than 40 years personifies dedication, loyalty, and integrity,” said Cecilia Frisbie, Developmental Studies department chairperson at JC. “We respect and appreciate his tireless efforts to help make Gulf Coast a place where a positive difference is made each day.” Gloria Smith/Jefferson Davis Campus
“We can make our students feel more important when we treat them like they are important,” Smith said. “The students are looking for caring and responsive services. The key is open communication and being willing to do whatever it takes to complete a task.” On her application for employment at the college, Gloria said her philosophy of education as it relates to community colleges is “to educate students who will be well trained in their chosen profession. This education should provide critical thinking skills, foster a respect for lifelong learning and instill the obligation to give back to the community.” These were not just pretty words designed to impress; Gloria's philosophy of giving back has been demonstrated clearly through her service to her country. As dedicated as Gloria was to her students, a higher duty demanded her attention when she was called to serve in Iraq from February 2003 to March 2004. “It was a life-changing experience,” she said. “I realized what really matters in life, and that I should not take anything for granted.” Upon her return to the states and to JD, Gloria became a Special Populations coordinator and has served our ADA students and those enrolled through the Dream of Prosperity program among others. She has become a valued member of the Career Center staff, taking on whatever responsibilities are assigned to her and performing them in an exemplary manner. “Gloria is always kind and gracious,” said Libby Richmond, secretary to the vice president, JD Campus. “On several occasions, I have referred students to her, and they always come back to me and thank me for referring them to someone who is so concerned and helpful. She makes them feel like their needs are important and that she is there to help them along the way.” Jason Rouchon/Perkinston Campus
“Jason has one of the most difficult jobs at Gulf Coast,” said Michelle Sekul, Perk Campus Dean of Student Services. “Yet he greets every request and demand with a simple, ‘We’ll take care of it. When he tells you that a job will be done, there is little question that it will be. He’s trustworthy, he never gets upset, he never says, ‘That’s not my job,’ and he treats every person with dignity and respect. His can-do, will-do attitude is greatly appreciated on the Perkinston Campus.” Although Rouchon accepts this prestigious honor, he said he’s also sharing it with his staff. “Co-workers are what it’s all about,” he said. “If you have a good team, you can make a difference in everything you do. They are the one’s that help me make a difference.” As a Gulf Coast alum, Rouchon knows that paying attention to detail is how he and his staff turn routine projects into works of art. Whether it’s putting up decorations for the Perk Campus’s annual Festival of Lights, or simply mowing the grass, going “above and beyond” is an everyday work trait. “Jason consistently makes a difference for every person on the Perkinston Campus,” said Dr. Joan Haynes, Perk Campus dean of Business Services. “He coordinates efforts to keep our campus clean and beautiful every day. He’s a hands-on leader who works with his co-workers to accomplish all of the things we do here at Perk. He gladly sets up equipment and furniture for events and activities on campus. He’s a huge part of the behind-the-scene activities for events like Homecoming and Backyard BBQ. And there is no way the Festival of Lights could happen without him and his crew. Even doing all this, Jason’s strongest quality is his positive attitude and can-do spirit. I have never heard him say a negative thing about anyone or anything.” Hunt, Murphy, Dedeaux earn 2008 MGCCC Instructor of the Year honors For every instructor at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, making a positive difference in peoples lives every day comes naturally. In 2008, three Gulf Coast instructors are being honored for doing more than just teaching class. This year, Amy Hunt, Sandra Murphy, and Kathy Dedeaux are the 2008 Instructor of the Year honorees. The annual award goes to the outstanding faculty members from the three main Gulf Coast campuses. Nominations are submitted by students, faculty, administrators or college organizations. All three award winners were honored at a reception March 17 at Heidelberg Hall on the Perkinston Campus. “At Gulf Coast, quality instruction and creating a world class educational opportunity for students are two of our highest priorities,” said Dr. Willis Lott, Gulf Coast president. “These instructors exemplify teaching excellence in everything they do with their students.” Amy Hunt/Jackson County Campus
That’s when her healthy obsession took over. “I was on my way to being a registered dietician,” said Hunt. “But I realized in college that I didn’t just want to be working in a hospital or cafeteria somewhere. My views on health and behavior modifications were broader, so I changed my major to include all health aspects, and not just nutrition.” Two master’s degrees and seven years later, she’s an expert on anything that goes into your body, and on any way to exercise it out. Hunt’s more into it than being that aerobics instructor who pushes you to the limit during a workout, or that friend who makes sure you don’t “biggie size” your drive-thru order - she’s on a personal crusade to make sure people live longer and healthier lives. Hunt said her role as a health and physical educator instructor at the college’s Jackson County Campus goes beyond setting up exercise mats and killing time for 45 minutes, or rolling out basketballs to her students in the gym. “When I first decided on this as a career, my main goal was to try and change the perception of physical education,” she said. “It encompasses all of our sciences…nutrition, anatomy, physiology, and biology. It’s more important to me that my students learn things that they can apply in their own lives.” Sure, she’s obsessed with health and nutrition. But for her students, it’s a healthy obsession by an informed mentor, educator, and friend. “She’ll never know how much she helped me with my physical and mental health,” said Sandy Creel. “Whoever said ‘what you don’t know can’t hurt you’ has never meet Mrs. Hunt.” If knowledge is power, then Amy Hunt is a powerful conduit of information. “I try to empower my students and tell them that they are in charge of making choices,” Hunt said. “They have the power to change.” Sandra Murphy/Jefferson Davis Campus
“It takes a very special person to be the type of instructor that she is,” said Gulf Coast nursing student Karen Walley. “She teaches us the compassion and empathy we need to become a nurse, not with her words, but with her actions. This is needed in our last level of education, because we’ve learned all the book information, but she teaches us to be true, caring nurses.” That’s high praise for a highly decorated and caring instructor who became a registered nurse in 1988, but got into teaching nine years later. “I didn’t feel like I had fulfilled my calling,” Murphy said. “That classroom and those students are my motivation for everything.” Sit in during one of Murphy’s classes, and you’ll find a mixture of valuable information and constant back-and forth idea exchanges between instructor and students. “I think if we have open communication and a lot of dialogue, we can all learn from each other,” she said. “I believe the whole thing is cyclical. I teach them, and they’ll teach others.” Murphy is currently the curriculum coordinator for the ADN department’s second-year team at the JD Campus. She’s also served as a department chairperson, and on numerous hiring committees. In 2007, Murphy was nominated for the prestigious Nightingale Award, an honor that goes to the state’s top nursing educator of the year, as decided by the Mississippi Nurses Association. Selena Wilkerson, a 2006 Gulf Coast graduate and current Intensive Care Unit nurse at Memorial Hospital in Gulfport, said compassion is also an element Murphy, a.k.a “Murph,” instilled in her everyday life. “In my area of nursing, compassion is needed everyday,” Wilkerson said. “Compassion is not only needed by the patients, but also the families. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t hear Murph in my head telling me to never lose the compassion that’s needed to be a great nurse.” Kathy Dedeaux/Perkinston Campus
“I try to teach it to the students as if it were a game,” she said. “You get all the pieces together, which are made up of what you’ve learned in the past. Then you pull from that knowledge, and put all the pieces together. It is my job as a math instructor to help them overcome anxieties towards mathematics and achieve their educational goals.” Dedeaux can even make math interesting for students like Alaina Pahlavan, who is hearing impaired. “She showed me how much fun math can be,” Pahlavan said. “Ms. Dedeaux also treated me normally despite my disability. Thanks to her, I am pursuing higher math courses, and I may change my major to one that has lots of math requirements.” For instructors like Dedeaux, that kind of reaction is more than just satisfying. “Alaina was an excellent student,” Dedeaux said. “She came into college algebra unsure of herself, and she was used to being treated differently by her high-school teachers. She expressed that she enjoyed my class because I treated her as an equal to my other students. I didn’t realize what a difference that made to her.” What got Dedeaux into teaching? Quite simply, the answer is fear, and love. “I wanted to eliminate the fear of math,” she said. “A lot of people were scared of it. I try to change mindsets about it and show them they can do it if they put forth the effort. I like to show others that it’s not as bad as they think it is.” Dedeaux also said it’s rewarding to her to become a part of the confidence-building process for incoming freshmen at Gulf Coast. “These same students leave after two years and are not only more mathematically grounded, but also more self-assured in their abilities to be successful at a senior-level college. I love math, and I try to let my students see that.” MGCCC hosts regional student learning research consortium
“Improving Together” was the theme chosen for the inaugural event. Evolving accreditation requirements coupled with a strong commitment to accountability mean that community and junior colleges are striving to demonstrate improvement of instruction through the assessment of student learning outcomes. The consortium allowed administrators and faculty members from two-year institutions to share successful initiatives and innovative ideas for continual program improvement through assessment. More than 200 representatives from 38 institutions were on hand for the two-day event. “The event was very comprehensive and engaging,” said Yolanda Mayberry, instructor of human services at the college’s Jackson County Campus. “Each group was able to meet with instructors from different states, share ideas, and learn how to turn those theories into real-life application in the classroom.” Dr. Belle Wheelan, President, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools - Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC) presented the keynote address, while Dr. Peggy Maki, author of “Assessing for Learning: Building a Sustainable Commitment across the Institution” also spoke at the consortium. “Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College was honored to produce this event, not only for our colleagues in Mississippi, but throughout the southeast,” said Dr. Willis Lott, MGCCC President. “Our goal is to promote a culture of assessment at our institutions to continually improve instruction and the success of our students.” MGCCC sees huge turnout for Bulldog Day 2008 For more than one-thousand South Mississippi high school seniors, the annual Bulldog Day event at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College was their first taste of college life. The March 4 program held at the college’s three main campuses was a fact-finding mission for more than 1,500 students. The kids got a first-hand look at college life, including campus tours, financial aid and scholarship information. Entertainment, T-shirts and lunch were also part of the mix. According to the Mississippi Faculty Association for Community and Junior Colleges, 69 percent of all freshmen in both public and private institutions of higher learning in the state are enrolled in community colleges. The annual event is put together at each campus by the Student Services staff, Preview Day Committee, the Reflections Team, Student Council, student clubs and organizations, grounds crew and the college’s recruiting department. MGCCC’s Women in Technology Conference focuses on cyber security, recognizes Stone County educators
The one-day conference, which is sponsored in partnership with Northrop Grumman Ship Systems I.T. Department, featured workshops that focused on computer and cyber security. The workshops were presented by Gulf Coast’s information technology faculty. A technology expo was included to inform students about new technology available and to showcase careers for women in information technology. Included as part of the conference each year is the E3 Award given to outstanding contributors in the area of education. This year’s award, with Emphasis on Equality and Education (E3), was awarded to Stone County residents Mike Cain and Mary Webb. The honorees, retired science teachers, opened The Learning Lab, an education-based business that, until 2006, offered motivational science education, science fairs, leadership and team-building workshops throughout the state. They have conducted workshops for various organizations in the state and provided summer science camps, a traveling classroom for elementary students, and developed the Stone High School Natural Science and Teaching Museum. Support for the conference was also provided by the Partnership for Geospatial and Information Technology Job Training and Capacity Building (GEO-ITECH) grant, funded by the U.S. Department of Labor and Tech Prep. MGCCC creates Mississippi Bowl set for Dec. 2008  On Dec. 7, 2008 the Mississippi Gulf Coast will feel the excitement of the state’s community and junior college football as the first-ever Mississippi Bowl takes place on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in Harrison County. South Mississippi will play host as one of the state’s top community/junior college teams goes up against another selected national team in the state’s only community college bowl game. Three fun-filled days of local entertainment, food, and football will welcome the teams and their families, friends, and special guests. “The purpose of the Mississippi Bowl is to host the state championship team from Mississippi and the highest nationally ranked available team from across the nation,” said Chris Calcote, Gulf Coast athletic director. “We think the Coast is a perfect venue for this type of event. Each year, our state has some of the best community and junior college teams in the country, so what better way to showcase their talents than through this game.” In 2007, Gulf Coast went 12-0 and was named NJCAA Co-National Champions. The Bulldogs defeated Kilgore College (Texas) 62-28 in the C.H.A.M.P.S Heart of Texas Bowl Dec. 1, 2007 in Copperas Cove, Texas. Gulf Coast also defeated Jones 20-17 in the MACJC State Championship game Nov. 10, 2007. Jones’ Bobcats finished the season 9-2 and ranked No. 5 in the nation. However, the Bobcats were not invited to a bowl game, despite losing both games to Gulf Coast by a combined total of nine points. In 2006, Gulf Coast was also left out of the post-season despite going 7-2 and finishing the season ranked No. 8 in the nation. Organizers hope the Mississippi Bowl will give the state’s community and junior college teams the proper reward for an outstanding season. “As the Mississippi Bowl gains popularity with community colleges, it is likely to become host to the NJCAA’S National Championship Game,” said Dr. Willis Lott, Gulf Coast president. “We’re actively looking for corporate sponsors to partner with us and play an important role in welcoming national teams, administration, family, friends, and guests to the Mississippi Gulf Coast.” All revenues of this association are for the benefit of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Foundation and student scholarships. The Mississippi Bowl payout for each team will be $10,000, compared to the $7,500 per-team payout from other bowl organizations. For information on possible sponsorships, contact Misty Maaya, Gulf Coast director of Institutional Relations at 601-928-6236, or e-mail her at misty.maaya@mgccc.edu. MGCCC “Will Rock for Loaves and Fishes” March 8  Call it “Live Aid, MGCCC Style.” On Saturday, March 8, from noon until 6 p.m., Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s Jefferson Davis Campus will vibrate with the sounds of four live performances who “Will Rock for Loaves and Fishes.” JD Campus organizations Student Humanitarians for Advancement and Change (SHAC), Catholic Students Association, and the college’s Lifelong Learning Institute are hosting the benefit concert for Biloxi’s Loaves and Fishes, an official institute on the Coast that serves the homeless. “When we help to change lives, we broaden pinched horizons in service to God and others, and we change the world,” said Harriet Leckich, Lifelong Learning Institute spokesperson. “We educate ethical, thoughtful, active students who, in turn, build ethical, thoughtful and active communities.” The bands slated to perform include the Rochelle Harper Band, Kyle Kiser and Naked Rodeo, Rocket Surgeons and 5th Gypsy. “The bands were all offered a percentage of the profits, but they all refused so that Loaves and Fishes can receive all proceeds from the show,” said Lee Ann Gunn-Rasmussen, social studies instructor at JD and co-sponsor of SHAC. “Kyle Kiser and Naked Rodeo are coming from Memphis on their own expense, while 5th Gypsy is also providing sound equipment and a person to run it for the entire day.” During the all-day concert, food, drinks, CD’s, T-shirts and other items will be on sale. “To me, being able to express myself through music and song is a gift from God,” said musician Rochelle Harper. “When I can share it with others, especially when it will help others, I feel blessed.” Donations are $12 in advance and $15 the day of the event. “We love to play music, because we love music and it’s good for the soul,” said Curt Gunn of 5th Gypsy. “If our music moves 30,000 people or just one, we will still play our hearts out. If music can bring a bunch of caring folks out to support a good cause, you can bet 5th Gypsy will be there." Too many good things come to an end. However, in the case of The Big Read on the Coast, which officially ends this Saturday, March 1, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College hopes the adventure will continue with people making time to dive into a good book. The entire month of February has been spent with Gulf Coast holding read-a-thons, where participants read, in one day, Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book “To Kill a Mockingbird,” published in 1960 and Lee’s only published book. Adding spice to the mix were dramatic performances by local schoolchildren of the book’s riveting courtroom scene. Spiritual songs sung by a local church choir added a haunting, unforgettable note to the drama, audience members noted. The finale this Saturday will feature a 4 p.m. showing of the 1962 movie, based on the book and starring Gregory Peck and Robert Duvall (his motion-picture debut), at the Jefferson Davis Campus in Gulfport and at the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center in Ocean Springs. The written work and artwork of local residents will also play a part in the finale on Saturday. At Crossroad Mall’s Barnes and Noble in Gulfport at 2 p.m., prizes will be awarded to middle-school and high-school essay contest winners. “Scenes from a Courtroom,” an art exhibit, will be on display at the JD Campus Fine Arts Gallery that same day beginning at 3 p.m. The exhibit will include sketches drawn by college, high-school and middle-school students during the performances of the “To Kill a Mockingbird” courthouse scene. The exhibit is open on Saturday and reopens on Monday, March 3, and will remain on at JD through Friday, March 14. All events are free and open to the public. For those who may not know the background of “To Kill a Mockingbird,” here’s the gist. Told through the words of an 8-year-old girl named Scout and set in small-town Alabama during the Depression, “To Kill a Mockingbird” teaches lessons about racism, poverty, class differences and respect through the laughter and tears of the narrator’s memories. Furthermore, Wikipedia.com states that the book “has been ranked by librarians next to the Bible as a book ‘every adult should read before they die.’” Making The Big Read possible for Gulf Coast was a $10,000 grant awarded to the JD Campus by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and Arts Midwest. Almost 200 communities have been awarded the grant in the past year. Basically, it’s the NEA’s response to the increasing number of “lapsed and reluctant” readers in the United States. Gulf Coast has promoted the project in George, Harrison, Jackson and Stone counties as a way to encourage readers who don’t take the time or like to read to expand their knowledge, escape to another time and place, and maybe even learn a life lesson or two. “Reading is a gift that is ignored much too often,” said Kay Bethea, co-chair of project and writing instructor at the JD Campus. “Sometimes, people are amazed at what really happens between the cover of a book. It’s like another world, another life. And there’s nothing wrong with escaping –and learning something new—from time to time. Fortunately for us, the movie does the book justice; it’s a wonderful adaptation of Harper Lee’s Southern gothic novel.” LeeAnn Gunn-Rasmussen, co-chair and JD social studies instructor, added, "I've been honored to co-chair this project. Bringing my favorite book to the folks on the Coast has been great, and this is a fitting finale to a great program! We hope folks will come out and join us as we celebrate ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ one last time.” For more information about The Big Read finale, contact Bethea at 228-896-2513, kay.bethea@mgccc.edu, or Rasmussen (co-chair) at 228-897-3798, leeann.rasmussen@mgccc.edu, or visit http://learning.mgccc.cc.ms.us/thebigread/index.htm. The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in conjunction with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest. For more information on The Big Read, visit www.nea.org. Bulldog Day 2008 on the horizon High school seniors from all over will invade the three main Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College campuses on March 4 for “Bulldog Day 2008.” The annual event gives potential students a chance to experience life at the next level. The students receive a campus tour, financial aid and scholarship information, and entertainment. They also get lots of free stuff, including T-shirts and lunch. The event runs from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. To register, log on to www.mgccc.edu and click on the “Bulldog Day” icon, or contact the Gulf Coast campus nearest to you. Jefferson Davis Campus/Fine Arts Auditorium (228) 896-2500 Jackson County Campus/Fine Arts Auditorium (228) 497-7813 Perkinston Campus (601) 928-6258 MGCCC announces Travel to Learn trip to St. Augustine Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College announces a Travel to Learn trip to St. Augustine, Fla., April 20-23. St. Augustine, the nation’s oldest city, also holds the distinction of being one of the nation’s most charming, with its cobblestone streets, quaint cafes, unique shops and bed-and-breakfast inns. Participants will experience the beauty of an early morning that slowly comes alive with locals and tourists setting out to explore historic landmarks. On arrival, participants will dine at Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grille located on the bay front. Other highlights of the trip include a step-on tour of the historical city; tours of the Castillo de San Marco, Old St. Augustine Village, Mission of Nombre de Dios, the Large Cross, the Fountain of Youth and the Lightner Museum; a ghostly historical night tour; and an Old Town Trolley Tour. There will also be free time to explore the Historic District and for shopping. The cost of the trip is $650 for Lifelong Learning Institute members and $685 for non-members. These prices are for double occupancy. For single occupancy, add $200. Included in the price is four days bus transportation, three night’s hotel accommodations, three breakfasts, two lunches and three dinners. Admission to all attractions, luggage handling, taxes and gratuities included. The deadline to register is Monday, Feb. 25, with a deposit due of $350. The bus schedule and trip agenda will be sent prior to trip departure. To register, visit www.mgccc.edu, click on Continuing Education and scroll down to the LLI spring schedule. For questions, call (228) 897-4374. MISSISSIPPI HUMANITIES COUNCIL NAMES RECIPIENTS OF ANNUAL PUBLIC HUMANITIES AWARDS
The 2008 awards ceremony and banquet will be held Feb. 22 at the Hilton Hotel in Jackson beginning with a silent auction at 5 p.m., a reception at 6 p.m. and the awards banquet at 7 p.m. The Humanities Scholar Award goes to Chris Goertzen, a University of Southern Mississippi ethnomusicologist who served as the lead scholar for the Mississippi Humanities Council’s touring Smithsonian Institution exhibit, New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music. A Public Humanities Achievement Award will be presented to Delta State University’s Delta Center for Culture and Learning for its multiple partnerships with the Council over the years to bring top-quality humanities programming to Mississippi, including the highly successfully Mississippi Music Teacher Workshop last summer which focused on Mississippi-bred music styles. A second Public Humanities Achievement Award will be given to Mississippi Public Broadcasting for its support of the national opening ceremony in Meridian last March for the Mississippi Humanities Council’s New Harmonies exhibit and the ongoing “Mississippi Moments” radio segments. Communities in Schools of Greenwood Leflore, Inc. will receive a Humanities Educator Award for its success in hosting multiple Mississippi Humanities Council Family Reading Bonds programs in the Mississippi Delta. Chair’s Awards for Special Achievements in the Humanities will go to Vicksburg photographer Melody Golding and former Mississippi Humanities Council Chair Dennis Mitchell of Mississippi State University. Golding traveled with the Red Cross to the Mississippi Gulf Coast for weeks following Hurricane Katrina, interviewing and photographing both victims and volunteers, which eventually became a traveling exhibit that opened first at the National Women’s Museum in Washington, D.C. and has since traveled throughout Louisiana and Mississippi. Mitchell has supported the humanities in Mississippi for many years, first as assistant director of the Council and later as a project director, consultant, evaluator and scholar for Council-funded programming. The Director’s Award for Preservation of Mississippi Culture will be given to historian Charles Sullivan of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. Sullivan was selected for his intense efforts to preserve artifacts and memorabilia on the Mississippi Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina. His efforts saved two photograph collections, in particular, which would have been destroyed if not for his dedication to preserving them. Two Special Recognition Awards will be given, one to Houston Drury, who leads the trucking program at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, and another to Judy Stein, AmeriCorps director with the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service. Drury, along with his students and staff, has transported the last three traveling Smithsonian Institution exhibits throughout the state, at no charge, saving the Council and the host sites thousands of dollars which could then be directed to humanities programming. Stein has served as a liaison between the Council and the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service for a new Council program entitled “Meaning of Service.” She has helped deliver this reading/discussion program, which reflects on the central questions of civic life, in numerous Mississippi locations, often developing her own innovative materials. “The scholars and community-based programs we are recognizing have made significant contributions toward raising awareness, establishing dialogue and increasing understanding about important topics, issues and ideas,” said Rod Risley, chair of the Mississippi Humanities Council. “Through these programs we gain a greater sense of who we are, what factors have shaped us and what we could become. The impact of their work may be measured by the soaring spirits of those whose minds they have opened.” Some 31 recipients of the 2007 Humanities Teacher Awards, which pay tribute to outstanding faculty in traditional humanities fields, will also be honored at the banquet. Tickets to the awards ceremony and banquet are $30 or $225 for a table of eight and may be purchased by sending a check to the Mississippi Humanities Council, 3825 Ridgewood Road, Room 311, Jackson, MS 39211. The Mississippi Humanities Council is funded by Congress through the National Endowment for the Humanities to provide public programs in traditional liberal arts disciplines to serve nonprofit groups in Mississippi. MGCCC wants you to “fill out your FAFSA” Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College wants to make it easier for students to complete the federal financial aid process. That’s why the college is holding three “fill out your FAFSA” nights at its three main campuses. Representatives from Gulf Coast as well as the Educational Services Foundation (ESF) will be on hand to help students & parents complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid online. The first session will take place at the Perkinston Campus Feb. 28 in the Hinton Hall computer lab, Mar. 6 in rooms B21 and B22 at the Jefferson Davis Campus, and Mar. 12 in Career Center Lab room 101 at the Jackson County Campus. Appointments are available from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. In order to complete the forms properly, students must bring the following:
For appointments, call Onnie Gazzo at (601) 928-6384, or email her at onnalea.gazzo@mgccc.edu. The Big Read project continues at MGCCC Join Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College on Saturday, Feb. 23, for The Big Read read-a-thons at the college’s Jefferson Davis Campus in Gulfport and the Jackson County Campus in Gautier. The events are set for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the campus cafeterias. Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” is the chosen book for The Big Read on the Coast. Participants in the read-a-thons will be placed in small groups, provided with copies of the book, and read the entire novel aloud in the space of a day. Participants will read no more than two pages at a time. Kids ages 10 to 110 can read the book and enjoy it. Plus, parents and parent figures are invited to bring their children, 5th grade and up, for quality reading time together. (Adult groups can fill in for parents who can’t make it.) Lunch is on the house, and free T-shirts will be provided to those participants who read the book in its entirety. The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in conjunction with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest. For more information on The Big Read, visit www.nea.org. No one can find a better book, a better place or a better time. For more information, contact Kay Bethea at 228-896-2513, kay.bethea@mgccc.edu, or LeeAnn Gunn-Rasmussen at 228-897-3798, leeann.rasmussen@mgccc.edu, or visit http://learning.mgccc.cc.ms.us/thebigread/index.htm. MGCCC to host home school student/adult learner days at Perkinston campus Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is set to host an informational seminar for adults and home-schooled students interested in going to college. Academic counselors and financial aid professionals will be on hand to answer questions at both seminars. The program also includes refreshments and drawings for door prizes and scholarships. The College Information seminar is slated for Tuesday, Feb. 12 at Stone Hall on the college’s Perkinston Campus. The informational event for home schooled students runs from 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., while the adult learner programs run from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Reservations to theses sessions are preferred, but not required. For more information, call (601) 928-6384, or email Onnie Gazzo at onnalea.gazzo@mgccc.edu. Rediscover the pleasure of reading through MGCCC’s The Big Read
To help make this happen, Gulf Coast’s Jefferson Davis Campus in Gulfport has been awarded a $10,000 grant to promote The Big Read (http://learning.mgccc.cc.ms.us/thebigread/index.htm), the NEA’s response to the increasing number of “lapsed and reluctant” readers in the United States. NEA and Arts Midwest announced on Nov. 13, 2007, that the campus received grant, which almost 200 communities have been awarded in the past year. Gulf Coast’s community includes George, Harrison, Jackson and Stone counties. The Big Read kicks off on the Coast on Feb. 9 at the JD Campus and ends March 1. “Each community awarded the grant selects one book from a provided list and, through a variety of programs and events, seeks to include as many citizens as possible in reading and discussing that book within a one-month period. We’ve chosen the novel ‘To Kill a Mockingbird, by Alabama native Harper Lee, for The Big Read on the Coast,” says Kay Bethea, co-chair of project and also writing instructor at the JD Campus. “The hope is that people will rediscover that reading is a pleasure and that good literature is not only relevant to everyday life but also reflects it.” Told through the words of an 8-year-old girl, Scout, and set in small-town Alabama in the Depression, the Pulitzer Prize-winning “To Kill a Mockingbird” teaches lessons about racism, poverty, class differences, and respect through the laughter and tears of the narrator’s memories. Throughout the The Big Read’s duration in South Mississippi, Bethea, along with LeeAnn Gunn-Rasmussen, The Big Read co-chair and JD Campus social studies instructor, and Gwen Carter, the project’s librarian partner from Gulf Coast’s Jackson County Campus, plan to create an environment for a frank discussion of the lessons taught in Lee’s novel not only as they appear in the book, but also as they apply to rebuilding a better Coast. Events will include dramatizations from the play, numerous book discussion groups, three Parent-Child Read-a-thons (in which the entire book will be read aloud in a day), online book discussion, an essay contest and art show featuring the work of local school students, and free showings of the Academy Award-winning movie. “When I first received the email from our campus vice president, Dr. Susan Scaggs, about The Big Read grant application last summer, I was very excited about the possibility of bringing a project of such substance to the Coast,” Gunn-Rasmussen says. “Post-Katrina, we had adjusted to living life in a pretty basic fashion. We had our roads (most of them), infrastructure (for the most part), utilities and most of our homes back, but we were existing more than living. We'd lost most of our museums and libraries in the storm, and they were struggling to come back and take on the critical role that they had played before the storm. “We're a resilient lot,” she continues, “and still had most of our festivals and celebrations, but we were starved for culture. The possibility that we could actually celebrate literature, and more specifically ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ was a ray of hope.” The Big Read is being accomplished with the help of community partners, including Barnes & Noble, Visions of Hope, the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center, West Elementary School, Jackson County Community Services Coalition, and the Margaret Sherry, Pascagoula, Lucedale, Orange Grove, and Gautier Library Branches. “Reading is a gift that is ignored much too often,” Bethea says. “Sometimes, people are amazed at what really happens between the cover of a book. It’s like another world, another life. And there’s nothing wrong with escaping –and learning something new—from time to time.” For more information about The Big Read, contact Kay Bethea at 228-896-2513, kay.bethea@mgccc.edu, or LeeAnn Gunn-Rasmussen at 228-897-3798, leeann.rasmussen@mgccc.edu, or visit http://learning.mgccc.cc.ms.us/thebigread/index.htm. MGCCC kicks off Go Green Project at Perkinston Campus
Facts such as these are why the Perkinston Campus kicked off the Go Green Project Jan. 31. “Stone County is one of the first in Mississippi to go green,” said Michelle Sekul, Perkinston Campus dean of Student Services. “Gulf Coast is proud to help create a culture of environmental responsibility on our campuses and throughout South Mississippi.” The Go Green Project began with entertainment from motivational speaker/singer Patrick Henry, as well as compact fluorescent light bulb giveaways courtesy of Wal-Mart. “We’re serious about saving money for our consumers,” said Wal-Mart spokesperson Demp Bell. “We want to elevate products that will help make a difference. Think about how many light bulbs you have at home or in your dorms. You can see how quickly this can escalate. You’re taking the lead in the state of Mississippi to do this. If every one of you takes one of these bulbs home and swaps them out with regular bulbs, enough energy is saved to power 2.5 million homes.” During the two-month event, students will hold recycling competitions and learn more about environmentally friendly ways to conserve energy and recycle everyday products. Recycling bins will also be placed at several Perk Campus locations. In March, the students and general public will also get to see “The 11th Hour,” a movie which probes the state of the global environment and explores visionary and practical solutions for restoring the planet’s ecosystems. “I think if we can do this the right way, it will serve as a wake-up call for others to also begin recycling and become aware about preserving the environment,” said Brian West, a student at the Perk Campus. “I wanted to be part of this movement. That’s why I’m here.” West and other students learned about Hybrid technology in cars and other ways students can save energy, and help clean up the area’s ecosystems. “We try to recycle paper and plastic in our dorms,” said Miranda Lamey. “I also do that at home, because the facts about global warming scare me. If we’re not careful, some bad things could happen later on down the road.” MGCCC Early Childhood Education Center opens at JD Campus  Try going to college with four kids and a job. That’s just a normal day in the life of 26-year-old Michelle Sabulao, one of the many students at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s Jefferson Davis Campus who will benefit from the college’s brand new Early Childhood Education Center. Two of Sabulao’s children are enrolled at the center, and were on hand for ribbon-cutting ceremonies Jan. 29. “I also work here, so I have the peace of mind knowing that I can pursue my education and still be close to my children,” she said. “The kids have adjusted well. I’m happy they are able to interact with other children in this terrific environment.” Since Hurricane Katrina, the need for quality childcare has been critical in South Mississippi. In the first several months following the storm, an estimated 90 percent of the childcare operations in Harrison County and 80 percent in Jackson County were out of business. Many of these childcare services are still not available due to lack of building space and construction delays. Because of this critical situation, many parents of young children have had to make the tough decision to stay home rather than continue their educations. For low-income families, lack of childcare creates barriers to post-secondary education. Post-Katrina surveys of students withdrawing from Gulf Coast reflect “problems with child care” often given as a reason for leaving school. “This ceremony represents a very significant achievement for the college,” said Dr. Willis Lott, Gulf Coast president. “Nothing is more important to the growth of our college than to consider student issues, many of whom are balancing family and work responsibilities. This Center will allow us to better serve our students and give them a wonderful new option for child care.” The $2.4 million facility, which can hold up to 78 children, also provides a state-of-the-art learning facility for students pursuing a career in childcare. In addition to daycare rooms for 1-4 year olds, the facility also has classrooms for students in the college’s Childhood Technology Program. “This marks a big step in our Strategic Plan, and we at the Jefferson Davis Campus have waited eagerly for this opening for some time,” said Dr. Susan Scaggs, JD Campus vice president. “This center represents so much more than just the expanded and state-of-the-art space which this building provides. It truly represents a greater opportunity for many students who have found that a lack of childcare is a real barrier keeping them from attaining the education they desire.” Michelle Sabulao agrees. “It’s great for us as students to have that hands-on experience with the children,” she said. “I’ve heard lots of comments from other students about how happy they are that we have this facility right on campus.” Sabina Spielrein coming to MGCCC The tagline immediately grabs you: “Freud and Jung used her ideas; the Nazi’s took her life.” On Feb. 6-7, the one-woman play “Sabina Spielrein” comes to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s Jefferson Davis Campus Arena Theatre. Show times are at 7:30 p.m. each night. “This is the American premiere of this production, so we’re very honored and thrilled to have it coming to the Coast,” said Ryan Pierini, Fine Arts chairperson at the JD Campus. The play focuses on the life of Russian-Jewish psychiatrist Sabina Spielrein (1885-1942), who lived through the great European tragedies of the first half of the 20th century. Graziella Rossi plays the part of Sabina, as well as the roles of Carl Jung, his wife, Sabina’s mother, and the Russian Commissioners, who are destroying her professional life. She jumps from one situation to another, with lightness either as an irresistible lover, convincing commander, or scientist. The zigzag performance is accompanied by saxophonist Harry White, a native of Gulfport. According to the international music magazine Das Orchestra, “Critics claim that hearing saxophonist Harry White is like hearing the instrument with new, different ears.” To reserve tickets, call the MGCCC Arena Theatre box office at 228-897-3931. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children. MGCCC World Civilization class gets firsthand look at history  This spring, ten World Civilization students at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s Perkinston Campus are turning in a paper for their instructor, Dr. Buck Foster. It sounds pretty typical, until you read between the lines of this particular project. The paper calls for the students to compare and contrast the difference between learning from a textbook and learning from real-life experiences. Those experiences came during an eight day field trip to Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic. “The students each chose a topic to research, and I gave them a book on that particular topic,” Foster said. So off they went, to places like Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany, the structure that was used to pattern Cinderella’s Castle at Walt Disney World, and Hradcany Castle in Prague, a structure built in 1000, A.D. Not only was it an up close look at history, but it was also the first venture out of the Untied States for students like Brittany Burkholder. “This was my first time out of the country, so it was a big deal to me,” Burkholder said. “Every place we went to was amazing. When we went to Prague, I felt like we were stepping back in time. All the landmarks were beautiful and unique.” Burkholder also said she and her group picked up a few life lessons along the way. “Learning to deal with money was very interesting, and the different languages were gorgeous” she said. “What we gathered during our travels is that no matter where you are, people are, for the most part, all the same. They strive to be better citizens and provide for their families.” In 2004, Foster and seven students embarked on the first World Civilization field trip to Rome, Italy. He said next year’s trip should be to Greece and Russia. For more information, contact Foster at 601-928-6237, or e-mail him at buck.foster@mgccc.edu. MGCCC kicks off Go Green Project  Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s Green Club/S.A.V.E. (Students Against Violating the Earth), along with other student and faculty groups, and several area business including the Wiggins Wal-Mart, plans to kickoff the college’s first ever Go Green Project Thursday, Jan. 31, at 6:30 p.m., on the college’s Perkinston Campus. “Stone County is one of the first in Mississippi to go green,” said Michelle Sekul, Perkinston Campus Dean of Student Services. “Gulf Coast is proud to help create a culture of environmental responsibility on our campuses, and throughout South Mississippi.” The Go Green Project begins with entertainment from motivational speaker/singer Patrick Henry, as well compact fluorescent light bulb give-a-ways courtesy of Wal-Mart. During the two month event, students will hold recycling competitions and learn more about environmentally friendly ways to conserve energy and recycle everyday products. Recycling bins will also be placed at several Perk Campus locations. In March, the students and general public will also get to see The 11th Hour,” a movie which probes the state of the global environment and explores visionary and practical solutions for restoring the planet's ecosystems. The MGCCC Go Green Project concludes April 10th. New academic facility planned for MGCCC’s George County Center  Plans are in place for a new state-of-the-art, $2.7 million academic facility at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s George County Center in Lucedale. The two-story, 13,750 square-foot building will feature a 120 seat lecture hall, a student lounge area, three academic classrooms and one art classroom, along with science and computer labs and a large administrative area. On Jan. 23, the college’s Board of Trustees accepted a bid from Chris Albritton Construction Co. to build the new facility. The building was designed by Guild Hardy Architects. “The college is excited with the growth this new classroom building will bring to the George County Center,” said Dr. Mary Graham, vice president of the college’s Perkinston Campus and George County Center. “The citizens of George County will certainly benefit from new offerings that will be provided as a result of this state-of-the-art facility.” Currently, the George County Center offers both postsecondary and secondary career programs, including Cosmetology, Electric Lineman Training, Office Systems Technology, and Practical Nursing and Surgical Technology. “Valor Remembered” now on MGCCC Web site So just how many Mississippians gave the ultimate sacrifice on the battlefield during the 20th century? The answer is more than 6,700, said Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College archivist Charles Sullivan. He and a cadre of honor students led by Bourbon Hughes spent five years compiling that list for his book titled “Valor Remembered.” The publication is based on official U.S. government records, help from the State of Mississippi’s Veterans Affairs Board in Jackson, and intense fact-finding missions by his staff. Now this vital link to military history is available on the college’s Web site at www.mgccc.edu. “The book was published in 1996,” Sullivan said. “But thanks to technology, the names of Magnolia State natives that gave their all in World Wars I and II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War can be found on the World Wide Web. The list is by no means perfect, but it’s the best we could do. I’d say the WWI list is 70 percent correct, the WWII list is 90 percent accurate, while the Korean and Vietnam War lists are 97 percent on the money.” The names on the list are arranged by county in alphabetical order. Putting that together, Sullivan said, was quite a task. “The needs for lists of Mississippi dead in the wars of the 20th century came from county boards of supervisors wanting to erect war monuments,” Sullivan said. “To do this, they have to have lists of dead ‘by county.’ For World War II the U.S. Army lists are by county, but the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard lists are by town. When we began we thought it would be a rather simple task to look up the town and place the names of the dead in the correct county. We were wrong about that.” The reason for so much intensive research? Sullivan said it’s all in the names. Not the fallen soldiers’ names, but the names of counties and cities. “Mississippi has many towns with the same name in different counties,” Sullivan said. “Mississippi also has towns and counties with the same name. Throw that in with the government confusing Mississippi with Missouri, and you’re bound to have some inaccuracies.” Sullivan said the records show 1,199 Mississippians were killed in WWI, 4,467 perished during WW II, 410 died in the Korean War, and 634 died in the Vietnam War. That adds up to a total of 6,710 known dead. “This is a big deal,” Sullivan said. “We must never forget the sacrifices our fellow citizens made on the battlefield to provide us with the freedoms we enjoy today.” Access to “Valor Remembered” can be found at www.mgccc.edu/Valor_Remembered.htm. Take a Leap into Service Learning On Friday, February 29, 2008, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, Jefferson Davis Campus, will host a regional one-day workshop designed to support efforts to establish new service-learning programs and strengthen existing programs. The workshop will feature a nationally acclaimed speaker, Carol A. Jeandron, Ph.D., who initiated and coordinated Service-Learning programs at two colleges prior to becoming a full-time consultant. While Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost at Nunez Community College, she was one of ten project directors nationwide in the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) 1997-2000 Community Colleges Broadening Horizons through Service Learning grant project, which initiated Service Learning in the Louisiana Community and Technical College System. She served as a Horizons mentor (2000-2003) and since its inception, has participated in the annual CAO Summit associated with the AACC Horizons initiative. Dr. Jeandron also was the founding director of the Office of Service Learning at Loyola University New Orleans. She has served on state/regional/national boards and committees including the Board of Directors of the National Society for Experiential Education and lead evaluator of Quality Enhancement Plans for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. She is the author of the AACC publication "Growing Your Own Leaders: Community Colleges Step Up" (2006). Dr. Jeandron is a nationally recognized consultant and lecturer on the topic of Service Learning and has presented keynote addresses/concurrent sessions at numerous conferences and workshops. This workshop is funded through a grant provided by the American Association of Community Colleges. Registration Deadline is February 15, 2008. For additional information contact Patricia West at patricia.west@mgccc.edu or 228-897-3739. Special guest helps MGCCC celebrate MLK Day
Guyot, a founding member of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party in the 1960’s, shared several life lessons and experiences with the group, from his time at Tougaloo College to being arrested in Hattiesburg to his groups work that eventually changed 22 election laws in Mississippi. “You’ll never make a non-political decision in your life,” said Guyot. “Every one of you has the power of empowerment.” Among many accomplishments, the 68-year-old discussed the many changes that were made during the turbulent 1960’s, including a revelation he had as a student at Tougaloo College. “I came from the Coast, an area that’s always been different from the rest of Mississippi,” he said. “While at Tougaloo, I met people from places like Holmes County and Union County. At that time, those counties were predominantly black, yet blacks weren’t allowed to vote there. That’s how I got started.” From there, Guyot and other civil rights activists formed the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, a group that attempted to be seated as delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City, N.J., in 1964. Guyot said even though they were denied seating at Atlantic City, the ripple effect of that event eventually led to party integration, and the inclusion of women in the delegation. “I didn’t get to go to Atlantic City,” said Guyot. “I was in jail in Hattiesburg on a disturbing-the- peace violation. But that, and other efforts in the 60’s, brought national attention to Mississippi. Segregated delegations will never happen again, and all delegations will be at least 50 percent female.” Attention, some say, was negative. But Guyot sees the civil rights movement in a different way. “We changed the whole definition of Mississippi,” he said. “We changed laws and signed thousands up to vote.” He also challenged today’s students and reminded them that the fight still continues, even in 2008. “We should become the leaders of racial reconciliation in Mississippi,” he said. “I came here to get you involved in the greatest movement there is. Never let anyone control your life.” Among other activities at Gulf Coast, students at the JD Campus also viewed several audio and video presentations, including the civil rights documentary “Eyes on the Prize.” The JD Choir also performed as part of the MLK Day activities. Area high school students graduate from MGCCC leadership program
It is an honor to be chosen from an area high school. A year long effort, the program requires research reports, mentor material, and community service as well as monthly field trips to learn more about the economics of South Mississippi. The students earn three hours of college credit upon meeting all of the requirements of the program. The program began in 1998 in an effort to expose high school students to a variety of leadership and career challenges, with students from George, Stone, Jackson and Harrison counties invited to participate.
Rediscover the pleasure of reading through MGCCC’s The Big Read Before you judge a book by its cover, it’s always a good idea to actually read the book. And if you can read, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Arts Midwest and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College want you to use that talent to expand your knowledge, escape to another time and place, and maybe even learn a life lesson or two. To help make this happen, Gulf Coast’s Jefferson Davis Campus in Gulfport has been awarded a $10,000 grant to promote The Big Read (http://learning.mgccc.cc.ms.us/thebigread/index.htm), the NEA’s response to the increasing number of “lapsed and reluctant” readers in the United States. NEA and Arts Midwest announced on Nov. 13, 2007, that the campus received grant, which almost 200 communities have been awarded in the past year. Gulf Coast’s community includes George, Harrison, Jackson and Stone counties. The Big Read kicks off on the Coast on Feb. 9 at the JD Campus and ends March 1. “Each community awarded the grant selects one book from a provided list and, through a variety of programs and events, seeks to include as many citizens as possible in reading and discussing that book within a one-month period. We’ve chosen the novel ‘To Kill a Mockingbird, by Alabama native Harper Lee, for The Big Read on the Coast,” says Kay Bethea, co-chair of project and also writing instructor at the JD Campus. “The hope is that people will rediscover that reading is a pleasure and that good literature is not only relevant to everyday life but also reflects it.” Told through the words of an 8-year-old girl, Scout, and set in small-town Alabama in the Depression, the Pulitzer Prize-winning “To Kill a Mockingbird” teaches lessons about racism, poverty, class differences, and respect through the laughter and tears of the narrator’s memories. Throughout the The Big Read’s duration in South Mississippi, Bethea, along with LeeAnn Gunn-Rasmussen, The Big Read co-chair and JD Campus social studies instructor, and Gwen Carter, the project’s librarian partner from Gulf Coast’s Jackson County Campus, plan to create an environment for a frank discussion of the lessons taught in Lee’s novel not only as they appear in the book, but also as they apply to rebuilding a better Coast. Events will include dramatizations from the play, numerous book discussion groups, three Parent-Child Read-a-thons (in which the entire book will be read aloud in a day), online book discussion, an essay contest and art show featuring the work of local school students, and free showings of the Academy Award-winning movie. “When I first received the email from our campus vice president, Dr. Susan Scaggs, about The Big Read grant application last summer, I was very excited about the possibility of bringing a project of such substance to the Coast,” Gunn-Rasmussen says. “Post-Katrina, we had adjusted to living life in a pretty basic fashion. We had our roads (most of them), infrastructure (for the most part), utilities and most of our homes back, but we were existing more than living. We'd lost most of our museums and libraries in the storm, and they were struggling to come back and take on the critical role that they had played before the storm. “We're a resilient lot,” she continues, “and still had most of our festivals and celebrations, but we were starved for culture. The possibility that we could actually celebrate literature, and more specifically ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ was a ray of hope.” The Big Read is being accomplished with the help of community partners, including Barnes & Noble, Visions of Hope, the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center, West Elementary School, Jackson County Community Services Coalition, and the Margaret Sherry, Pascagoula, Lucedale, Orange Grove, and Gautier Library Branches. “Reading is a gift that is ignored much too often,” Bethea says. “Sometimes, people are amazed at what really happens between the cover of a book. It’s like another world, another life. And there’s nothing wrong with escaping –and learning something new—from time to time.” For more information about The Big Read, contact Kay Bethea at 228-896-2513, kay.bethea@mgccc.edu, or LeeAnn Gunn-Rasmussen at 228-897-3798, leeann.rasmussen@mgccc.edu, or visit http://learning.mgccc.cc.ms.us/thebigread/index.htm. A pdf of the calendar-of-events poster can be downloaded here. Emergency Notification Contact Information MGCCC has adopted the Connect-ED mass notification system to inform students and employees of pending emergencies or other pertinent college information. Please follow the instructions below to submit your cell phone number for voice and text communication from the college. *Please note that Connect-ED will ask you to (text Y mgccc) back to them to confirm your desire to receive text messages from the college.
$7.25 Million Awarded to Local Colleges for Centers of Excellence October 10, 2007 -- (Ellisville, Mississippi) -- Three of Mississippi.s community and junior colleges are joining forces to create centers of excellence for advanced metal trades in the state. Jones County Junior College, Pearl River Community College, and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College were recently awarded $7.25 million in grants to help grow qualified workers in the metal and construction trades. This financial boost is the first of its kind for these colleges, and will give southeastern Mississippi a competitive edge in workforce development. This regional group effort will result in nationally recognized certifications that will give adults advantages when competing for better jobs and better pay in the workforce. The first Centers for Excellence will be located at Jones County Junior College and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, which will serve as models for the Momentum WIRED project. “A focus on the metal trades is one of our Advanced Technology Center's core missions. Enhancing this portion of our workforce has tremendous potential for Mississippi. This grant invests greatly in our region's human capital and will give us the opportunity to become a larger, more skilled workforce,” said Dr. Jesse Smith, President of JCJC. The $7.25 million grant money comes from a $5 million U.S. Department of Labor (WIRED) Momentum grant and a $2.25 million State Board for Community and Junior Colleges (SBCJC) Challenge grant. WIRED stands for Workforce Innovation In Regional Economic Development. The Momentum WIRED grant will allow the three colleges to plan, design and create centers of excellence focused on welding and machining skills. In addition, this grant will make colleges more responsive to the needs of Mississippi industry. The Challenge Grant will also serve as a supplement to focus on industrial maintenance such as pneumatics, hydraulics, and programmable logic controllers. “Mississippi has an enormous need for advanced workforce development and job training. The unique partnership funded under this grant will bring together the state, including our community college system, workforce investment boards, agencies of the federal government and the private sector to establish multi-regional centers for excellence to train workers in advanced manufacturing trades, with special emphasis on metal trades, such as welding,“ Governor Barbour said. More than 72,000 Mississippians work in the metal trade industry. Despite the impact of Hurricane Katrina, jobs in metal-related industries grew by more than 28 percent between 2002 and 2006. Mississippi currently shares a WIRED grant with the State of Alabama that deals with developing an innovative job training system in the East Mississippi and West Alabama region. No. 3 MGCCC Bulldogs win overtime thriller 27-20 Most football teams have slogans, catchphrases and words to live by during a season. The Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Bulldogs word for 2007 is “finish.” Against a determined Northwest squad Oct. 11 in Perkinston, the No. 3 ranked Bulldogs finished off the No. 16 ranked Rangers 27-20 to up their record to a “We always tell our guys to finish, and they did tonight,” said Gulf Coast head coach Steve Campbell. The Bulldogs began the game sluggish, as Northwest took the opening kickoff and scored on a 3-yard touchdown run by quarterback Daniel Thomas to make it 7-0 Rangers. Gulf Coast answered with a 18 play, 92-yard drive capped off by a 3-yard touchdown run by Albert Williams, his third this season, which tied the game at 7-7. Williams finished the game with 117 yards rushing. In the second quarter, Bulldog kicker Sean Brauchle nailed a 52-yard field goal to give his team a 10-7 lead at halftime. The 52-yarder tied the school record set back in 1992. The Bulldogs took the second half kickoff and scored on another 3-ayrd TD run by Williams to make it 17-7. Brauchle added another field goal to give Gulf Coast a 20-7 lead. Then the Rangers (5-2) turned up the heat, as Thomas hit Kimario Hentz on a 45-yard TD pass to make it 20-14, then an Albert Williams fumble was scooped up by Northwest.s Ricky Wadlington, who went 40 yards to tie the game at 20. The PAT was missed my Rangers kicker Jonathan Neilson. “I dropped it,” said Williams. “But as soon as it was over, I put it behind me and kept fighting. We just fought, and dug deep, and did what we had to do.” The Bulldogs had a chance to win it in regulation, but Sean Brauchle.s 33-yard field goal attempt with 3:30 to go sailed wide left. After hitting 15 straight, the freshman kicker finally missed in 2007. “At least the pressure to be perfect is over now,” said Brauchle. Northwest drove the ball into Bulldog territory late in the game, but the Gulf Coast defense stiffened, and the game headed to overtime. The Rangers won the coin toss, and elected to play defense. That.s when the Bulldogs turned up the intensity. “We've got a slogan... 'go all day long,'” said Bulldog Linebacker Eltoro Freeman. “When it went to overtime, we looked at it as an all-day long situation.” The Gulf Coast offense used a 14-yard run by Demond Washington and a pass interference call in the end zone to set up the game-winning score. Washington capped off the 25-yard drive with a 1-yard TD scamper to make it 27-20. The Bulldog freshman racked up 173 yars rushing in the game. The defense then shut down Northwest in its overtime possession, as Freeman tackled Daniel Thomas for a loss on third down, then Tremaine Broack broke up a 4th down pass to seal the deal. “It was a gut check for us,” Freeman said. “We had to see who was going to step up and make plays. When the offense scored, we knew we had them.” Gulf Coast travels to Jones for an Oct. 20 battle with the Bobcats in Ellisville. Fans can catch all the action on 91.7 FM WAOY, and via streaming audio at http://www.mgccc.edu/football Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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