Sisters Mackenzie and Morgan Ross, of Meridian, were honored for their academic achievements and leadership during Honors Day 2017 at the University of Alabama.

Mackenzie, a public relations and political science double major, was selected as the Outstanding Senior. Morgan, a metallurgical and materials engineering major with minors mechanical engineering, computer based honors, and mathematics, was selected as the Outstanding Sophomore.

Proud parents are Jim and Cindy Ross, of Meridian. The girls were homeschooled and participated in Distinguished Young Women during high school.

Easter basket donation

Morgan Craven and the team of therapists at Therapy Management Corporation, and Jennifer Carter, along with the staff of Bedford Care Center of Marion, teamed up together and donated Easter baskets, toys, various art supplies, DVDs, gift cards, and band-aids to Blair Batson Hospital in Jackson.

The gifts were in memory of Carter’s son, Samuel Davis, and behalf of Heather Miles’ daughter, Jadyn Miles.

MSU essay winners

Students from Mississippi, Michigan, Tennessee and Texas are 2017 winners of Mississippi State’s Maroon Edition Essay Contest. Windie V. Jenkins, a junior business administration major at MSU-Meridian, took first place in the upperclassmen division while Benjamin D. “Ben” Pace, a senior biological sciences/pre-dental major from Collinsville, took third place.

The competition is sponsored each year by Maroon and Write, the university’s quality enhancement program to boost student writing skills. First-place winners receive $500; second and third place, $300 and $100. 

Maroon and Write Co-Director Deborah Lee said winning essays will be archived and available for viewing in the MSU Libraries’ Institutional Repository. For more about Maroon and Write, visit www.qep.msstate.edu; Maroon Edition, www.maroonedition.msstate.edu. 

Jr. Civitan Club fundraiser

The Queen City Junior Civitan Club held an Easter Egg hunt Tuesday for Wesley House. Junior Civitan, a community service organization for students, seeks to meet the needs of our world and promote progress in a world of change. The group meets once a month to plan and organize upcoming service projects. To be a part of the club, call Leslie White, QCJC president, at 601-421-7272.

Suzanne Marshall writes the Neighbors column for The Meridian Star. Submit items to editor@themeridianstar.com.