Page 16 - South Mississippi Living - February, 2026

COAST NOTE
A LEGACY THAT
BUILDS FUTURES How Scholarships Open Doors at MGCCC
When Lavern Balcer reflects on her husband’s life, she thinks less about job titles and more about what mattered most to him. Helping people learn a skill. Giving
them a chance to succeed. Watching them take pride in work well done. Those values now live on through
the Frank A. Balcer Memorial
Scholarship at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC).
Established in 2020 by Lavern, their three sons, and extended family, the scholarship supports two career or technical students, with special consideration for those enrolled in the Process Operations Technology program at the Jackson County Campus. For the Balcer family,
the scholarship is not simply a memorial. It is a continuation of Frank Balcer’s lifelong belief in practical education and opportunity for working people.
Frank’s own journey shaped that belief. After graduating from high school, he could not afford college and chose to serve in the military. Upon returning home,
he became one of the first hires at the Chevron refinery in Pascagoula in 1963. Starting in maintenance, he worked his
story and photo courtesy of MGCCC way up to maintenance superintendent
before retiring decades later. “Throughout his career, Frank saw so
many capable young people who just needed a few classes to strengthen their skills,” Lavern said. “They wanted to do their jobs well and move forward, but many simply could not afford college.”
Frank was a strong advocate for vocational and technical training, particularly through community colleges. He believed not every student needs
a university degree, but every student deserves access to training that leads to stable, meaningful work.
“When he passed away, we wanted to honor him in a way that reflected what
he cared about most,” Lavern said. “He felt truly blessed by his career and wanted others to find that same kind of fulfillment. Supporting students at MGCCC allows his legacy to keep helping people build solid futures.”
Scholarships like the Frank A. Balcer Memorial Scholarship are made possible through the MGCCC Foundation,
which exists to turn generosity into opportunity for students across the Coast. The Foundation currently supports 205 endowed scholarships, and last year, 655 students received Foundation assistance. Foundation funds support student scholarships and programs, ensuring donor support goes where it matters most.
“Receiving a scholarship tells students that someone believes in their potential,” said Dr. Suzi Brown, vice president of Student Services, Enrollment Strategies,
and Advancement at MGCCC. “That encouragement can be life changing.”
Much of the Foundation’s scholarship funding is generated through its signature event, the Annual MGCCC Scholarship Gala, to be held this year on March
28, 2026, at the Beau Rivage Resort
& Casino. Although the Gala serves as the Foundation’s signature fundraising event, its true purpose is to celebrate the collective generosity of its donors and the difference their year-round support makes for MGCCC students and the college.
Through memorials, employee and alumni giving, and community support, MGCCC Foundation scholarships continue to change lives. Each one, like the Balcer Scholarship, stands as a reminder that education is not just an investment in students, but a lasting tribute to the values and people who believed in them.
To learn more about donating or establishing a scholarship, visit www. mgccc.edu/ways-to-give.
To become a 2026 Gala sponsor or purchase tickets, visit www.mgccc.edu/ gala.
Frank A. Balcer
16 | February 2026
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