MCC Smith, Vawlers garner Meridian Council of Garden Clubs Scholarship

Published 1:00 pm Tuesday, November 13, 2018

“It doesn’t limit me.”

That’s how Meridian Community College sophomore Jordyn Smith described her study in the 3D CAD Engineering Technology Program.

“I feel like I have more options to be creative than in other programs,” Smith said.

Her classmate, Adam Vawters, also likes the program because it taps into his lifelong hobby of drawing.

“When we’re doing the designing and putting the project altogether, you can see the 3D part and see what you’ve made and see what forms. I love that part,” Vawters said.

The two Meridian residents are recipients of the Meridian Council of Garden Clubs Scholarship for their second year of study and are awarded full-tuition scholarships.

In 2004, the College established the scholarship that was earmarked for students in horticulture or other related disciplines such as agriculture, forestry, landscaping or floral design as specified by the Council. Four years later, students in other MCC Career and Technical Education programs, Construction Trades and 3D CAD Engineering Technology Program, were included in the eligibility.

Both students were grateful to be chosen for the scholarship.

At 20 years old, Smith plans to graduate from the MCC program in May and continue her education at the University of Southern Mississippi where she hopes to study architectural engineering and design houses.

Vawters, 28, plans to graduate next month and “go straight to work in my field and hopefully work at Ingalls,” he said.

The two also credit their instructor, Stuart Brown, who is also the program chairman, as being key to their classroom success. 

“He really is very laid back. If you have trouble understanding the work, he will work with you. It makes the class easier knowing that the teacher is on the same page with you,” Smith said.

“If I didn’t have Mr. Brown as an instructor, I wouldn’t have made it through this program… he’s made everything work,” Vawters said.