Gene Goldman, as the guest speaker Wednesday at the President's Roundtable Luncheon on the campus of Meridian Community College, probably knew he would get a token of appreciation for taking time from his busy schedule as director of the John E. Stennis Space Center to travel to Meridian for the event.
But even he was surprised at the announcement MCC President Scott Elliott made shortly after Goldman finished his speech.
"I think this would be as good a time as any to make this announcement," said Elliott. "I can't think of a better time."
Elliott said MCC will award for the first time the Gene Goldman Scholarship in honor of the MCC alumnus who has moved on to such heights in his career. The scholarship is worth $1,000 and will be awarded to a deserving engineering student attending MCC during the upcoming spring semester.
"I am honored that a Meridian Community College scholarship will be awarded to an aspiring engineering student in my name," said Goldman. "The real tribute is to the members of the MCC Foundation that provides the funding for this outstanding scholarship program and which benefits the youth of Lauderdale County as well as develops our future leaders. It is a remarkable demonstration of community service."
"I can't think of anyone who despite his position has remained down to earth and humble," said Elliott. "We here at MCC thought this was appropriate."
Goldman has served as the director of NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis since 2008. As director, he provides executive leadership, overall direction and management of the center. He is responsible for implementing NASA's mission in the area of rocket propulsion testing, developing and maintaining NASA's world-class rocket propulsion test facilities, and ensuring Stennis serves as the systems engineering center for applied science activities assigned by the agency.
Goldman began his NASA career in 1990. Before joining NASA, he worked for three years as engineering manager for the Tennessee Valley Authority in Athens, Ala.; seven years as a project engineer/manager for Gulf States Utilities in Baton Rouge, La.; and four years as project engineer with the Tennessee Valley Authority in Hartsville, Tenn.
After graduating from MCC, Goldman earned the Registered Professional Engineer-Civil certification in 1983. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Mississippi State University.
Local News
MCC announces Goldman scholarship
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High Honor
The flowers and balloons Crestwood Elementary School Principal Kimberly Kendrick received at school Monday were not an early Valentines' Day gift.
Kendrick has been named Meridian Public School District's 2012 Administrator of the Year – an announcement that both surprised and wowed the 17-year veteran educator when made by MPSD Superintendent Dr. Alvin Taylor. -
Master Dance Class
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Digital system promises better communication
Hopefully in the near future you won't hear someone in the emergency services ask over the radio, "Can you hear me now?"
A digital communications system, one which is being pushed by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), is a few months away and, in some cases, is already in the testing phase in Lauderdale County. -
Inmate escapes custody
Mississippi Department of Corrections officials said Monday afternoon an inmate escaped from custody Friday and is still being sought.
Officials said Johnny Hall Jr. escaped from two Wilkinson County Correctional Facility officers’ custody while being escorted from his father’s wake at the Picayune Funeral Home in Picayune. Preliminary information indicates Hall left the officers and jumped into a waiting black vehicle with a white female driver. -
Citizen’s Police Academy begins today
The work law enforcement conducts on a daily basis is often misunderstood by the general public.
Officials at the Meridian Police Department developed a program to inform and educate citizens on what police do in serving and protecting the population. The program, The Citizen's Police Academy, has been gaining speed for a couple of years since it was first offered. Officials said it shows residents are interested in police work and how it is conducted. - Woman: decongestant brought meth charge in Alabama
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Star Of The Week: Dominique Goodwin-Jenkins
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SoMiSPO brings steel drum rhythms to MCC
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About face
Nothing is forever in the military and after a months-long battle to secure a C-27J Spartan flying mission and its field training unit at Key Field and the 186th Air Refueling Wing, it seems all of that is flying the way of the KC-135 tankers that used to fill the skies over Meridian.
- Marriages & Divorces: Sunday, February 5, 2012
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