Page 76 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2025

GIVING BACK
The Gift of Opportunity
Supporting Student Dreams at MGCCC
story and photos courtesy of
MGCCC
This season of giving is a time to celebrate the generosity that fuels student success at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. And
it’s the MGCCC Foundation that
helps turn your generosity into life- changing opportunities at the college, empowering students to stay focused on their goals and build brighter futures. Every scholarship serves as a vote of confidence, showing students that their hard work and dreams truly matter.
In 2025 alone, 655 Gulf Coast students benefited from Foundation scholarships totaling more than $763,000. Ninety- one percent of Foundation funds go directly toward scholarships, with 100 percent supporting MGCCC students and programs. For many students, that support changes everything.
For Tavon Reed, a sophomore from Gulfport majoring in Agricultural Science, the Dantzler Family Forestry Scholarship made a dream possible. “This scholarship tremendously reduced
the burden of paying for college, lifting a weight off my family’s shoulders,” Tavon said. “It has made an everlasting difference in my life and helped me focus on becoming an agronomist specializing in plant protection. I would encourage other students to apply for scholarships because they can make such a difference.”
Scholarship support ripples far
beyond tuition payments. For Anna Craigie, the Daniel Lee Memorial Scholarship helps her pursue her
dream of becoming a kindergarten teacher. “I’ve always known I wanted
to work with children,” she said. “This scholarship allows me to continue following that dream while staying active and serving on campus and in my community.”
Nadia Neal, recipient of the Patricia Gale McNally RN BSN Scholarship, echoed that impact. “It reminds me that others believe in my path,” she said. “It’s helping me move one step closer
to working in the ER and eventually becoming a nursing instructor.”
Dr. Suzi Brown, vice president of Student Services, Enrollment Strategies, and Advancement, said the Foundation embodies MGCCC’s mission of transforming lives through education. “When someone donates to the MGCCC Foundation, they are doing much more than paying for a student’s education,” she said. “They are helping students gain confidence, find their purpose, and reach their potential. The impact of that generosity continues long after graduation.”
This year, as we celebrate the season
of giving, your gift can make a lasting difference for students like Tavon, Anna, Nadia, and hundreds more who are striving to achieve their goals.
To learn more about how you can support Gulf Coast students and help them realize their dreams, visit mgccc.edu/mgccc-foundation.
76 | December 2025
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