Page 79 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2017

GIVING BACK filling in the gaps
One scholarship recipient is
Brianna Purnell, 18, of Gautier, who
is in the college’s 3D Modeling and Design program. Purnell received an ACT scholarship and a Reflections scholarship. “I’ve always been involved in clubs at school, so when I started college, I knew the Reflections team was something I wanted to
be a part of,” she said. “I enjoy participating in recruitment activities and showing prospective students all MGCCC has to offer.” Her scholarship funds cover the extras — books, class supplies and gas.
“All of our scholarship students can tell you how much it means to them
to get an education,” Batiste says. “Each of them is driven to succeed but needs a little help reaching their goals. We want to continue providing them opportunities.”
That’s why donating to the MGCCC Foundation is so important. “Whether you can give a lot or a little, it
helps our students,” says Batiste.
DOING MORE FOR
STUDENTS
“I encourage everyone to find out what they can do to help. The most important fact is, you have benefited everyone concerned — yourself, your neighbors, thousands of Gulf Coast students and your local community college. With more than 28,000 served by the college each year, we need your support more than ever.”
To learn more about scholarship students, visit MGCCC on Facebook.
601.928.6344 www.mgccc.edu/mgccc-foundation
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College has served South Mississippi for 106 years. Whether with traditional college classes or a career, technical, workforce or adult education program, the goal is to provide the very best learning opportunities for residents.
“Sometimes we have to offer financial assistance to students, who for one reason or another, cannot afford the cost of tuition, book fees or other program costs,” said Tenesha Batiste, associate vice president of Institutional Advancement. “That’s where the
MGCCC Foundation steps in and does the most good. We help students fill in those gaps and make reaching their educational goals possible.”
The Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Foundation Inc., a nonprofit corporation chartered by the state of Mississippi, was founded to establish and administer endowment funds for educational services within the college’s district. The organization oversees a variety of scholarships, awarding $515,276.24 to more than 700 students during 2016.
story and photo courtesy of MGCCC
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December 2017 • SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living 79