• Shaina Nicole Breedlove has been selected to receive the Madeline Scott Callahan Memorial Scholarship at Meridian Community College. 

    This $1,100 award is funded through the MCC Foundation from an endowment established by the East Mississippi Medical Alliance and Dr. Joel Callahan Sr. This award perpetuates the memory of an outstanding young woman and her “gift of giving.”

     Breedlove was valedictorian of the 2009 graduating class of Sebastopol High School. She is in the fourth semester of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program. A President’s List scholar, Shaina is a member of the Health Education Students of America and Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year college students. She planned to enter the workforce upon graduation in May.

    • Tiphannie Mashelle Gibson has been selected to receive the Maude Smith Scholarship at Meridian Community College. 

    This $1,150 award is funded through the MCC Foundation from an endowment established from a bequest of the estate of Miss Smith. Beginning her teaching career at the age of eighteen with an equivalent of a PhD from the University of Chicago, “Miss Maude” taught English for 51 years. She was head of the English Department at MCC when she retired at 71 years of age.

     Gibson, a 2010 graduate of West Lauderdale High School, is a sophomore in the University Transfer Program at MCC. A Dean’s List scholar, she is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year college students.  She works part time at the concession stand at MCC and as a work-study for the Todd Library. Gibson was recently named to Who’s Who Among Students in American Community and Junior Colleges. Her career goal is music/voice instruction.

    • Zachary Paul Marroy has been selected to receive the Lee Anne Smith Scholarship at Meridian Community College. 

    This $1,800 award is funded through the MCC Foundation from an endowment established by a bequest from Shirley Wansley Smith. Smith requested that the funds be used for scholarships as a memorial tribute to her daughter, Lee Anne.

     Marroy, a 2010 graduate of Assumption High School in Napolianville, La., is in the University Transfer Program at MCC. He is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and plays on the MCC Men’s Tennis team that recently won the Region XXIII title. His goal is to achieve a bachelor’s degree and become a nitrogen complex operator.

     • East Central Community College graduate Christina Nollie of Carthage received a transfer scholarship to the University of Southern Mississippi during the college’s annual Awards Day program. In addition, she was the recipient of a Mississippi Business Educators Association Award and The Tom-Tom Award.

    • JACKSON – Jennifer Leigh Street of Wiggins recently graduated with a juris doctorate degree from Mississippi College School of Law.

    A graduate of All Saints Episcopal School in Vicksburg and the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Street completed an externship with the Harrison County Youth Court in Gulfport during law school and is currently employed as a law clerk/staff attorney at the Harrison County Youth Court.

    Street is the daughter of Jimmie Anders Wells and the late Maj. James H. Wells of Meridian. She is married to Adam R. Street and is mother to three sons, John, Ryan and Adam. 

    • Leslie Nicole Nester of Lawrence has been selected to receive the Dr. Dan Thornton Scholarship. 

    This $1,100 award is funded through the MCC Foundation from an endowment established by June Thornton in memory of her husband. Opening his practice in Meridian, Dr. Thornton was a respected member of the medical community from 1948 until his death in 1991. A gynecologist and obstetrician, he served as chief of staff at Riley Memorial Hospital, Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center and Meridian Regional Hospital. He served in numerous professional and civic positions and was published in several medical publications.

     Nester, a 2002 graduate of Lake High School, is in the third semester of the Associate Degree Nursing Program. A President’s and Dean’s List scholar, she is member of the Organization of Student Nurses and the Mississippi Organization for Associate Degree Nursing. Her plans are to enter the workforce upon completion of the program.

    • Jason Robert Belcher of Quitman and Duncan Randall Brown of Collinsville have been selected to receive the Sara and Sam Niemetz Scholarships at Meridian Community College. 

    These $1,500 awards are funded through the MCC Foundation from an endowment established by Mrs. Niemetz in 1990. The Niemetz emigrated from Russia and adopted Meridian as their home in 1938. For 35 years, they owned and operated one of the premiere ladies apparel shops in Meridian, The Vogue. Mr. and Mrs. Niemetz were actively involved in Temple Beth Israel as well as civic activities in the community; education was a primary interest of theirs. The MCC Foundation also received a generous bequest from Mrs. Niemetz’ estate.

     Belcher, a 2010 high honors graduate of Quitman High School, is a sophomore in the University Transfer Program preparing for a career in the medical field.  A President’s List scholar, Belcher is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year college students. He is a member of the Eagle Baseball team and works part time for Belcher Farms.

     Brown, a 2009 graduate of West Lauderdale High School, is in the University Transfer Program studying business/accounting. A Dean’s List scholar, Brown is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year college students. After completing his associate degree, his plans are to attend Mississippi State-Meridian Campus and continue to work part time for Mississippi Power Company.    

    • Daniel Ray Winstead has been selected to receive the Richard F. Riley, MD Scholarship at Meridian Community College. 

    This $1,000 award is funded through the MCC Foundation from an endowment established by Mrs. Mary Ann Bonney Riley. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II and completing his residency at the University of Virginia, Dr. Riley began the practice of general surgery in Meridian in the early ’50s. After retiring, he and his brother established The Riley Foundation in 1998. This community will continue to benefit from his service and philanthropy for years to come.

     Winstead, a 2004 graduate of Meridian High School, is in the third semester of the Associate Degree Nursing Program at MCC working toward graduation in December. A Dean’s List scholar, he is a member of the Organization of Student Nurses and Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year college students. His goal is to achieve the master’s degree in nursing and become a nurse practitioner.

    • Andres Enrique Yepez has been selected to receive the George J. Blackwell Scholarship at Meridian Community College. 

    This $3,000 award is funded through the MCC Foundation. Blackwell is remembered as an avid sportsman and conservationist. He also hosted an outdoor program for WTOK TV, “Outdoors with George.” Viewers recall that he was always “somewhere in Lauderdale County.”

     Yepez, who is in his third semester at MCC, is in the University Transfer Program studying business. A member of the MCC Men’s Tennis Team, Yepez was named to the All Region XXIII Team his freshman year. He plays number two singles and number two doubles. A Dean’s List scholar, he is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year college students. Yepez will continue his tennis career and his education at Belhaven University this fall.