Submitted photo

Sporting lapel buttons with the words #besthope to support Mississippi’s community colleges, Meridian Community College faculty staff and students turned to state legislators in Jackson Wednesday and urged the lawmakers to do just that. That message – and the button – were shared with not only local and area legislators – but also with Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant. More than 40 students, faculty and staff from MCC made the trek to speak to government officials about the importance of community colleges in not only local communities but to the state as a whole.