• Madeline “Maddie” Hope Griffin of Meridian has been selected to participate in the 2015 session (May 31-June 19) of the Mississippi Governor’s School. The Governor’s School is a residential honors program established in 1981 by Governor William F. Winter a Mississippi University for Women.

    The Governor’s School is designed to provided academic, creative and leadership experiences for a limited number of rising high school juniors and seniors who have demonstrated exceptional ability and achievement in their studies and who show high intellectual, creative and leadership potential.

    Maddie has just compl    eted 11th grade a Meridian High School, where she is on the varsity soccer team, a member of the Academic Team, the National Honor Society, the National Art Honor Society, The Art Club, The Science Club, the Student Government Association and Rotary Interact Club. She also a member of the Dusty social service club, Leadership Lauderdale Youth and St. Patrick Catholic Church Youth Group.

    Maddie plans to pursue a career in pharmacy at he University of Mississippi.

    She is the daughter of Matt and Diane Griffin of Meridian.

    • Jackson Lee Parrish and Wendy Zheng, both of Meridian, have been selected to receive the Phil Hardin Foundation Scholarship at Meridian Community College. 

    These $5,000 awards are funded through the MCC Foundation by the Phil Hardin Foundation. Being convinced that “education was key to Mississippi’s future,” entrepreneur and philanthropist Phil Hardin established a foundation designed to “work for the improvement of the education of Mississippians.” The Phil Hardin Foundation Board takes seriously its responsibility to carry on the legacy of Mr. Hardin by using the resources of the foundation to “benefit succeeding generations of Mississippians and Mississippi communities.” These awards are a result of that commitment.

     Parrish is graduating with a 3.82 grade point average in the University Transfer Program and plans to attend Mississippi State University and major in political science and journalism.  His long-term goal is to finish graduate school in the field of political science/journalism with a career goal of becoming a political consultant/political analyst. He is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and The Phil Hardin Foundation Honors College. Parrish received the Thomas and Norma Bourdeaux Scholarship funded through the MCC Foundation. He was also awarded the Ricardo Calderon’ Spanish Award.

     Zheng is graduating with a 4.0 grade point average in the University Transfer Program majoring in pre-pharmacy. She plans to attend the University of Mississippi. She plans to take the PCAT this summer for admission into the School of Pharmacy at the University of Mississippi. Zheng is a member of the Phil Hardin Foundation Honors College and served as an officer in Phi Theta Kappa. She is also a member of MCC’s Community Band and MCC’s Concert Choir.       

    • The memory of Dr. Horace Macaulay Ivy, founding father of Meridian Community College, is perpetuated today with the announcement of three Ivy Scholarship recipients. This year marks the 42th year for these scholarships to be given to outstanding graduates.

    The Ivy Scholars are selected on the basis of academic excellence, extra-curricular participation, financial need, and faculty appraisals.  All three scholars will receive $1,500 for their junior year of study at senior institutions, and provided their academic excellence continues $1,500 awards for their senior year of study.

    Kristen Michelle Roberts is chemistry major with plans to attend Mississippi College. Her career goal is to become a physician. She has a 3.95 GPA and is a President’s Scholar. Roberts is a member of The Phil Hardin Foundation Honors College, and served as an officer in Phi Theta Kappa. A member of MCC’s Community Band, Roberts is also an active member of the Baptist Student Union. While at MCC, she received the A. D. Burdette Math Scholarship funded through the MCC Foundation.

    Kemper Jewelene Baker is business administration major with plans to attend Mississippi State University-Meridian. She has a 4.0 GPA and is a President’s List scholar. She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and served as Historian. Baker also was awarded the Howard Barnett Memorial Scholarship funded through the MCC Foundation.

    Kenya Brige’ Hawkins is a University Transfer student with plans to attend Mississippi State University-Meridian. Her career goal is to become an occupational therapist. A President’s List scholar with a 3.94 GPA and an officer of Phi Theta Kappa, Hawkins also received the G. V. “Sonny” Montgomery Memorial Scholarship awarded through the MCC Foundation.

    • West Lauderdale High School senior Erin Bratu has been selected as one of 565 semifinalists for the U.S. Presidential Scholars competition.

    Nearly 3.3 million high school seniors are graduating this year, and only 4,300 of those were identified as candidates for this program.

    Bratu is also STAR Student, valedictorian of her class, and a National Merit Finalist this year. Across the year, she has won numerous subject area awards.