• Anna Alyssa Harrison has been selected to receive the Robert Cochran Memorial Scholarship awarded through the MCC Foundation.

This $500 award is funded by the Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Clarence Roberts. Lieutenant Cochran, Mrs. Roberts’ brother, was killed in Vietnam while on active duty with the United States Navy. He was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously.

Harrison graduated with highest honors in the University Transfer Program in May. A President’s List scholar, she served on the executive board of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year college students. Harrison was a member of the College Republicans and the Baptist Student Union. She was one of six MCC students chosen for the Appalachian Leadership Honors Program.

Harrison will continue her education at Mississippi State University studying communications and journalism.

• Ashley Young, Katherine Grace Davis and Lydia Sue Burns have been selected to receive the Ruth Van Dyke Nelson Memorial Scholarships at Meridian Community College.

These $1,600 awards are funded through the MCC Foundation from an endowment established by Arthur W. Nelson of Meridian. Mrs. Nelson was a conservationist and tree farmer, as well as a wife, mother and community activist. She performed on stage with the Meridian Little Theatre, worked with the Girl Scouts and was an advocate for family service organizations.

Young is a 2008 highest honors graduate of Southeast High School. She is in the University Transfer Program taking liberal arts courses. A President’s List scholar, Young is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two year college students. Her career goal is to become a lawyer.

Davis is a 2008 graduate of Meridian High School. She is in the University Transfer Program. She was named to the Dean’s List fall semester and was tapped for Phi Theta Kappa this spring. Davis is a member of the Baptist Student Union and the MCC Chorus. She will pursue a doctorate in psychology.

Burns is a 2008 graduate of Meridian Christian Home Educators. A sophomore in the University Transfer Program, she was named to the President’s List and initiated into honorary society, Phi Theta Kappa. Burns has been a member of the MCC High School Chorus and in the cast of MCC’s production of “Big River.” She will complete her education in communications or journalism.

• JACKSON – Nine area students were among graduates during the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s 53rd Commencement on May 22 at the Mississippi Coliseum.

A total of 515 physicians, dentists, nurses, allied health professionals, and graduate students in the health sciences were awarded degrees. University of Mississippi Chancellor Robert Khayat and Dr. Daniel W. Jones, UMMC vice chancellor for health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine, presided over the ceremony.

Area honorees are:

Stephen Patrick Bergin earned a doctor of medicine degree cum laude. A 2005 graduate of Mississippi College, Bergin is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha, Gold Humanism Honor Society and Phi Kappa Phi. He won the 2007-09 Dean’s Award and the 2006-09 Roxie Bunch Medical Scholarship.

Bergin will begin residency training in internal medicine at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C.

Bergin is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph P. Bergin of Bailey and husband of Erin McRaney Bergin of Vancleave,

David Paxton Jones earned a doctor of medicine degree magna cum laude. Jones earned his bachelor of science at the University of Mississippi in 2000 and his doctor of pharmacy from the University of Mississippi in 2002. A member of Alpha Omega Alpha and Phi Kappa Phi, he won the 2009 Brenda Joy Nicholson Pritchard, M.D., Scholarship, the 2009 Regions Bank Scholarship, the 2008 and 2009 Medical Reunion Scholarship, the 2006, 2008 and 2009 American Medical Association Foundation Scholars Award, the 2008 James A. McDevitt, M.D., Scholarship, the 2008 Southern Medical Association Scholarship and the 2008 Earnest W. Goodpasture Award.

Jones will begin residency training in radiology-diagnostic at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis.

Jones is the son of Robert Jones of Meridian and Janice Jones of Stonewall, and husband of Elizabeth Jones of Meridian.

Jason Robert Schwanebeck earned a doctor of medicine degree. A 2004 graduate of Mississippi State University, he will begin residency training in emergency medicine at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

Schwanebeck is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Robert and Carol Schwanebeck of Meridian.

Lillian Vanessa Zamora earned a doctor of medicine degree. A 2004 graduate of Loyola University, she will begin residency training in anesthesiology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

Zamora is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Ivan Zamora of Quitman.

Jason Clayton Holladay earned a doctor of physical therapy degree. He is a 2004 graduate of Mississippi State University.

Holladay is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Holladay and husband of Phyllis Scott Holladay, all of Meridian.

Stephen Daniel Kay earned a doctor of physical therapy degree. He is a 2005 graduate of Mississippi College.

Kay is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kay of Toomsuba.

Michael Jonathan Turner II earned a doctor of physical therapy degree. He is a 2005 graduate of Mississippi State University.

Turner is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Mike and Sharon Turner of Meridian.

Naekhia Rhoshannon McDonald earned a bachelor of science degree in nursing. She is a 2001 graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi.

McDonald is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. U.L. Collins of Meridian and Rayford Wright of Meridian.

Elizabeth Suzanne Williams earned a bachelor of science degree in nursing cum laude. She is a dean’s scholar and a member of Sigma Theta Tau.

Williams is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gregg and Nita Williams of Bailey.

• Six Meridian Community College students have been selected to receive scholarships funded by Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center.

These $ 2,100 awards, funded through the MCC Foundation, honor the memory of doctors and administrators who were instrumental in founding, directing, and growing the hospital into the medical center it is today. The recipients are all entering the third semester of the Associated Degree Nursing Program at MCC. They were selected on the basis of scholastic ability, nursing excellence, and faculty recommendation. Each student submitted an essay on why they chose nursing as a career.

Eliza Gavin is a 2006 graduate of Northeast High School. She is the recipient of the Dr. Jeff Anderson Scholarship. A member of the Organization of Student Nurses, Gavin has been named to the Dean’s List. She will enter the workforce upon completion of the program.

The recipient of the Dr. Jefferson F. Hollingsworth Scholarship is Angela Christine Ware, a 1991 honors graduate of Northeast High School. A President’s List scholar, she holds offices in the Organization of Student Nurses and the Mississippi Organization for Associate Degree Nursing. Ware plans to work in either labor/delivery or emergency room while continuing her education toward becoming a nurse practitioner.

Allan Dewayne Stinson is a 1998 home school graduate. He is the recipient of the Dr. William J. Anderson Jr. Scholarship. Stinson is employed full time with Choctaw County Emergency Medical Services and part time with Metro Ambulance. He is a volunteer with the Bailey fire Department and Lauderdale County Emergency Management Agency. His goal is to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist.

Amanda Gayle Jones is the recipient of the Dr. William J. Anderson III Scholarship. A President’s List scholar, she is a member of the Organization of Students Nurses and Nurses Christian Fellowship. Jones will enter the workforce while continuing to work toward becoming a nurse practitioner.

The recipient of the William Gunn Esquire Scholarship is Brandy Christina Dearman. She is a 1990 graduate of West Lauderdale High School. Dearman is a stay-at-home mom to daughters Bethany and Jessica. She is a member of the Organization of Student Nurses and the Mississippi Organization for Associate Degree Nursing. Her goal is to work in cardiac critical care.

Krystal Leann Dearman is a 2000 graduate of Enterprise High School. She is the recipient of the Reuben S. Johnson Scholarship. A President’s List scholar, Dearman is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year college students. A full time student, mom and cosmetologist, she will enter the workforce upon completion of the program.

ATLANTA, Ga. – Raj Patel of Philadelphia, Miss. received a bachelor of arts degree from Emory College of Emory University at its 164th commencement ceremony on May 11.

Patel is the son of Ashvin B. Patel and Varsha A. Patel of Philadelphia.