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     • Joshua Matlock has been selected to receive The WTOK TV Broadcast Scholarship at Meridian Community College. 

    This $1,000 award is funded through the MCC Foundation the local television affiliate.

     Matlock, a 2014 salutatorian graduate of Clarkdale Attendance Center, is a sophomore in the Broadcast Communication Technology Program at MCC. He is a member of the Student Association of Broadcasters, a Dean’s List scholar and Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two year college students. He works part-time for WTOK.

    Matlock plans to attend Mississippi State University and pursue a degree in broadcasting/reporter.

    • Sam Davis Hudnall Jr. has been selected to receive The Inspired Seven Scholarship at Meridian Community College. 

    This full tuition award is funded by the MCC Foundation celebrating Meridian Junior College’s first African-American Students. This year marks the 50th anniversary of MCC being integrated.  The MCC Diversity Committee, headed by MCC Instructor Derek Mosley, worked tirelessly for several months preparing for the program, reception and the opening of a related exhibit. Those seven students were Addie Goines, Edna Graham Pigford, Edna Hardaway Robinson, Roscoe Jones Sr., Bernice Rackley Willis, Helen Stewart and Hazel Trussell Moore. Goines and Pigford were honored posthumously. 

     Hudnall is a 2009 graduate of Northeast Lauderdale High School, where he was awarded Scholar Athlete for three consecutive years. He is a sophomore in the Physical Therapist Assistant Program at MCC. He is a President’s List scholar and works part-time at Footlocker. Hudnall is a member of the Physical Therapy Assistant Organization.

    After graduation, Hudnall plans to enter the workforce as a physical therapist assistant to gain some experience. In the near future, he will continue his education at the University of Mississippi Medical Center setting his sights on his doctorate.

    • Kenneth Napierkowski has been selected to receive the State Farm Companies Scholarship at Meridian Community College. 

    This $1,600 award is funded through the MCC Foundation from an endowment established by contributions from area State Farm Insurance agents. State Farm Company matched each gift.  Agent Gary Eldridge, now retired, initiated this cooperative effort.  Meridian agents Percy Bland, Charles Garrett, Bobby Graham (retired), Chris McDonald, Jerry Townsend (retired), Charles D. Smith (retired), Pamela Deitz (retired) and Quitman agents Cindy Belcher and Robert Donald, helped to build this endowment.

     Napierkowski, a 1970 graduate of Highlands High School in Natrona Heights, Pa., is a sophomore in Culinary Arts Technology Program at MCC. A President’s List scholar, Napierkowski is a member of DECA and the Student Member of the American Culinary Federation. He is an active member of the Knights of Columbus and volunteers at St. Patrick Church. 

    After completing his program at MCC, Napierkowski plans to open a business in the production and marketing of superior ethnic sausages and encased meats in the greater Meridian area.

    • Grant Renegar and Reagan Dupre have been selected to receive the Nicholas Gianakos Memorial Scholarship at Meridian Community College. 

    These $2,000 awards are funded through the MCC Foundation from an endowment established by Kim Gianakos in tribute to her nephew.

     Renegar, a 2014 honors graduate of Parklane Academy in Summit, is in the University Transfer Program at MCC. A President’s List scholar, Renegar is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two year college students, the Phil Hardin Honors College and the MCC Golf Team. He works part-time at Quail Hollow Golf Course, at Percy Quin State Park.

    Renegar plans to attend medical school after his first four years of college and specializing in dermatology.

    Dupre, a 2014 honors graduate of A & M Consolidated High School in College Station, Texas, is a sophomore in the University Transfer Program at MCC. A Dean’s List scholar, Dupre is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two year college students and the MCC Women’s Soccer Team. She plans to attend Mississippi State University and major in physical therapy. 

    Dupre’s goal is to be accepted into physician’s assistant school and become a PA.

    • Dylan Driskill has been selected to receive the Gift Johnson Memorial Scholarship at Meridian Community College. 

    This is a full tuition, one time award is funded by the MCC Foundation. Gift lived up to her name. Gift was an incredible wife, mother, grandmother “granny”, great grandmother, great great grandmother and friend. She was fiercely loyal and always put others before herself. She and her husband, John O’Neil Johnson Sr., were owners of Mississippi Beverage in Meridian and Hattiesburg, John O’Neil Johnson Toyota and local real estate developers. Both were especially fond of the Meridian Community College Foundation.

     Driskill, a 2015 graduate of West Lauderdale High School, is taking pre-requisite classes to enter into the Associates Degree Nursing Program at MCC. He plans to continue his education at the University of Southern Mississippi. His goal is to be accepted into USM’s anesthetist program.

     • Shatara McClelland has been selected to receive the Gloria Nuckolls Memorial Scholarship at Meridian Community College.

    This $1,300 award is funded through the MCC Foundation from an endowment established by the Nuckolls Family. This award is designated for a student in one of the healthcare programs at MCC.

     McClelland, a 2011 honors graduate of Meridian High School, is a freshman in the Respiratory Care Technology Program at MCC. She works part-time at MCC’s Todd Library. A Dean’s List scholar, McClelland is a member of Health Occupation Students of America and was MCC’s 2015 Homecoming Queen. She will complete and graduate from the RCT Program in May 2017. 

    McClelland’s goal is to continue to be inspirational, a leader to others and make a huge difference in the world.

     • Adam Mowdy has been selected to receive the Paul Nuckolls Memorial Scholarship at Meridian Community College. 

    This is a full tuition, one time award and is funded by the MCC Foundation. Nuckolls moved his family to Meridian in 1970 and started Specialty Roll Products. He was a prominent member of the business community and received many awards including the Mississippi Small Business Man of the Year and was appointed to serve on the Governor’s Committee of the Private Industry Council. Nuckolls served as president of the MCC Foundation and has been a devoted supporter of MCC.

     Mowdy is a 2015 high honors graduate of West Lauderdale High School, where he was president of Student Council and was on the WLHS soccer and tennis teams. He is a member of the Phil Hardin Honors College and is in the University Transfer Program at MCC.

    Mowdy is undecided what field of study he plans to pursue, however he plans to continue his education at Mississippi State University or the University of Southern Mississippi.

    • Charandle Sumrall and Catherine Kennedy have been selected to receive The Radio People Scholarship at Meridian Community College.

    These $1,700 awards are funded through the MCC Foundation by Clay Holladay, owner of the regional broadcast organization.

     Sumrall, a 2012 graduate of Quitman High School, is a sophomore in the Broadcast Communication Technology Program at MCC. She is a member of the Student Association of Broadcasters and is a President’s List scholar. 

    Sumrall plans to enter the workforce upon graduating from MCC, and hopes to go forth with a career in the film industry.    

     Kennedy, a 2008 home schooled graduate, is also a graduate of William Carey University with a bachelor’s degree in theatre and psychology. She is a sophomore in the MCC Broadcast Communication Technology Program. Kennedy is a member of the Student Association of Broadcasters. She works part-time for Pat Gray Academy of Dance, Gymnastics and Cheer. 

    After graduation, Kennedy plans to begin her career in television.

    

• HATTIESBURG – The following area students have been named to the University of Southern Mississippi’s President’s and Dean’s Lists for the 2015 summer semester.

    The President’s List includes full-time students who earned a perfect 4.0 grade point average (all As). Dean’s List scholars are those with at least a 3.5 grade point average, but less than a 4.0.

Students recognized from the local area include the following (see below):

    President’s List: Jordin Dianne Johnson, Sarah Elisabeth Kirkus, China Wil’skyia McNeil and Christin M. Peters, all of Meridian; Sarah Abigail Odom of Collinsville; and Aja Aquaris Larkin of Toomsuba.

    Dean’s List: Kennedy Danielle Castleberry and Courtney Shyniece Dubose, both of Meridian; Celeste Loper Miles of Collinsville; and Jordan Miles Walker of Decatur.    • BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The following area students received a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree from Samford University during recent commencement exercises:

    Mississippi – Grace McKelvey Ellis of Meridian received a bachelor of science in nursing from Ida B. Moffett School of Nursing; and Rachel Lauren Whaley of Quitman graduated cum laudewith a doctor of pharmacy from McWhorter School of Pharmacy.

    Alabama: Parrish S. Nordan of Gilbertown received a juris doctor from Cumberland School of Law.

    • BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Caroline Wigley of Gilbertown attended the 2015 Alabama Governor’s School at Samford University. Wigley was among 90 outstanding rising high school seniors from 27 Alabama counties who were selected for the two-week honors program.

Wigley attends South Choctaw Academy.

    The students enjoyed college level experience in academics, creativity and leadership. Each chose a major and minor area of coursework to study in morning and afternoon classes. They participated in a community service project, attended a Birmingham Barons baseball game and enjoyed other recreational activities. They also learned about the college admission process and heard an inspirational talk by the founder of a nonprofit foundation that supports cystic fibrosis research.

    AGS participants are nominated by their schools on the basis of academic ability, leadership qualities, creativity and community service. Selection is also based on teacher and guidance counselor recommendations and written essays.

    This year’s AGS participants represented an average ACT score of 28.8 and an average SAT score of 1891.

    More than 2,000 of Alabama’s best and brightest high school students have attended AGS since it began at Samford in 1987.

    • MOON TWP, Pa. – Sara E. Stonestreet of Bailey, Miss., was named to the Sprint 2015 Dean’s List at Robert Morris University. Stonestreet is majoring in actuarial science.

    • TROY, Ala. – William Logan of Gilbertown has completed IMPACT new student orientation and enrolled at Troy University for the Fall 2015 semester at the Troy Campus.

    • TROY, Ala. – Two area students graduated from Troy University during the summer semester/Term 5 for 2015.

    Brianna Lancaster of Waynesboro, Miss., graduated with a bachelor of science degree.

    Angenetta Anderson of Lisman graduated with a master of public administration degree.

    • DURANGO, Colo. – Desmond Hernandez of Choctaw, Miss., started coursework at Fort Lewis College in August. Hernandez’s major is psychology.