Mississippi Christian University

The Honors College at Mississippi College may have a new leader, but members of the fifth cohort of exceptional students that comprise the elite program's Class of 2027 are prepared to be challenged by a rigorous interdisciplinary curriculum dedicated to academic excellence, spiritual growth, and civic engagement. Christopher Weeks, associate professor of biology at MC, has succeeded Erin Norcross, the original director of the Honors College program proposed by MC President Blake Thompson during his inauguration in 2018. The new class is comprised of the following students:

During his spring 2019 inauguration, Mississippi College President Blake Thompson prioritized establishing an Honors College on the Clinton campus to advance the University's vision of being recognized for academic excellence and a commitment to the cause of Christ. Members of that first class of Honors College students participated in MC's Spring 2023 Commencement on May 4. Dr. Erin Norcross, Honors College director, said each newly minted graduate is fulfilling the president's promise by realizing their vast potential and blazing an impressive trail for subsequent classes to follow.

Kaylee Parks, an Education major at Mississippi College, is the recipient of a 2023 Linda Anglin Teacher Preparation Scholarship from the Mississippi Professional Educators (MPE). In addition to the $500 scholarship, Kaylee also received a complimentary membership to MPE for her first year of teaching. A resident of Clinton, Parks is a member of Alpha Chi and Mortar Board honor societies and serves as vice president of Kappa Delta Pi honor society. Founded in 1979, the Mississippi Professional Educators is Mississippi's largest and premier organization for professional educators, serving approximately 12,500 teachers, administrators and support personnel. MPE serves members in pre-K through graduate education in both public and private institutions with the purpose of promoting better education for the children of Mississippi. MPE offers an annual scholarship to an MPE student member from each School of Education at Mississippi's fifteen public and private institutions of higher learning.

Nine current or former Mississippi College students have been selected to participate in scholarship programs designed to increase the number of physicians and dentists serving the healthcare needs of citizens living in rural areas of the state.

The Mississippi College Department of Communication announced the 2021-22 academic year award winners. The Hollis and Julia Todd Scholarship is awarded to sophomore Communication majors. Eight students were selected this year: Savannah Blackwell, Evan Brown, Noah Drewes, Anna Grace Lane, Isabel McConnell, Sydney Shaw, Peyton Torrence, and Gabby White.

The Mississippi College Department of Communication announced the 2021-22 academic year award winners. Ely Alas received the Bob Pittman, Jr. Journalism Scholarship. The Bob Pittman, Jr. Journalism Scholarship is awarded to a Communication student with a concentration in Journalism.

The Mississippi College Department of Communication announced the 2021-22 academic year award winners. Jackson Breedlove and Jordan Little received the Lindsay Carole Memorial Scholarship. The Lindsay Carole Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a Communication major with a minimum 3.0 GPA; who is a leader in his or her church and community.

The Mississippi College Department of Communication announced the 2021-22 academic year award winners. Brennan Heard and Liliana Talazac received the William Alfred Middleton, Jr. Scholarship. The William Alfred Middleton, Jr. Scholarship is awarded to a Communication major with a Journalism or Public Relations concentration.

The Mississippi College Department of Communication announced the 2021-22 academic year award winners. Bethany Anne Hall received the Billy Lytal Scholarship. The Billy Lytal Scholarship is awarded to a junior or senior Communication major with a concentration in Public Relations or Media.

The sustaining value of local church support for Mississippi College students cannot be overstated. For James Bradley McGlothin, recipient of the 2021 Alta Woods Baptist Church Scholarship, that truth has helped ensure a ministerial future unencumbered by debt. The junior Christian Studies and History scholar knows how important church support can be. During his last semester of high school, the French Camp native started preaching and conducting Bible studies in his home congregation at Bethsaida Baptist Church before opting to pursue a degree from MC. "I came from a small, private Christian school, and I had a lot of friends who were going to MC," McGlothin said. "When I came here for a visit, I got the same feeling - It was a strong Christian school with similar values to my own. "I wanted to get some foundational classes of Biblical Greek and some core Christian Studies classes before going on to seminary, so I chose to come to MC." He is definitely making the most of his opportunity at the Christian college. Dr. Burn Page, professor and chair of Christian Studies, said McGlothin's performance in the Greek 101 class he teaches is consistent with his stellar 4.0 overall GPA. "Bradley was prepared for the class from Day One," Page said. "He had all the required textbooks, and he took copious notes. There was no question that he was fully engaged in the class." Dr. Ivan Parke, professor of Christian Studies, said McGlothin has excelled in all of the subjects Parke has taught him. "He never missed class, sat on the front row, and occasionally stayed after class to ask good questions," Parke said. "Last spring, Bradley apprised me that he was changing his major to double major in history and Christian Studies. I was quite excited. "Students like Bradley would be cherished by any academic department." Those academic credentials solidified McGlothin's selection by the Alta Woods Baptist Church for its $1,000 scholarship, presented annually to an outstanding Christian Studies student at MC. A part of the Jackson community for more than 70 years, the church at 168 Colonial Drive seeks to reach people for Christ in a variety of ways. Its diverse missions include work with the Children's of Mississippi ministry, the women's prison ministry, and Operation Christmas Child, among others. Since June 2016, the church has partnered with New Jerusalem Baptist Church to share its 1,200-seat sanctuary and other facilities. Page serves as the church's pastor and worked as its interim pastor for five years before that. At MC, he also serves as director of the Institute for Christian Leadership based in historic Provine Chapel. In November, McGlothin had the opportunity to thank members of the Alta Woods Baptist Church personally by giving a sermon for the congregation. "It was a great experience," he said. "They were very kind to me, and I got to preach Colossians 1:15-17, about the supremacy of Christ." Page said he was proud of his pupil's performance in the classroom and in front of the pews. "It was very meaningful, especially because Bradley did such a great job preaching that morning," Page said. "A church likes to take 'holy pride' in being a part of a young man's ministry who 'correctly handles the word of truth' (2 Tim. 2:15)." While he hasn't yet decided which seminary to attend, McGlothin is certain of his academic goals: to obtain a Master's of Divinity and, ultimately, a Ph.D. He said the Alta Woods Baptist Church Scholarship will help him enter the next phase of his journey to the ministry. "My plan is to become a pastor, and I would love to also teach in a seminary," he said. "The Lord will ultimately see about that, but right now, that's the plan. "The scholarship came at a perfect time for me. It has helped to fill the gap, so Lord willing, I'll be debt-free when I graduate from MC. That's a huge benefit going into the ministry. It is helping to free me up so I can see where the Lord takes me. I'll be able to invest in seminary without having to worry about finances. It's very special." Parke said he has every confidence McGlothin will succeed in his ministerial efforts. "Hall of Fame pitcher Dizzy Dean asserted, 'It ain't bragging if you can do it.' Bradley is smart enough to brag, but he models humility. He is respectful and considerate. Consequently, I'm confident that he will succeed as a graduate student as well as a minister. He is pleasant and positive. His work ethic is commendable. "God honors the righteous and exalts the humble. Bradley already defers to God, crediting God's amazing grace." McGlothin, who has been attending Grace Community Church in Jackson during his time at MC, said the scholarship is indicative of the support local congregations provide students. "There are so many things going on on MC's campus. It's important for students to balance their school, social time, and church life in a way that is healthy and pleasing to God," he said. "The Lord has put a lot of great local churches around MC that students can be involved in. It's really crucial for anybody coming to MC to get plugged into a local, healthy church."

The Honors College at Mississippi College welcomes 15 new students fall of 2021. The Honors College offers a vibrant learning community dedicated to meaningful reflection, faithful citizenship, and servant leadership. Students learn to translate knowledge into wisdom as they think deeply about enduring themes and important questions. They are encouraged to imitate Christ, cultivate virtue, and pursue human flourishing. Students are challenged to see the love of neighbors as foundational to their calling and leadership in careers, communities, and churches. The Honors College currently awards incoming freshmen an Honors College Scholarship. This scholarship was initially funded by a generous gift of Mr. J.L. Holloway. It provides students with full tuition, room, and board scholarships and allows students to partake in all Honors College sponsored opportunities including the summer international experience.

The Debbie Norris scholarship typically goes towards the students' final two years at MC. The award is for $1,000 annually. Students are eligible to stack it with other scholarships. Admissions director Kyle Brantley believes the scholarship speaks volumes about the highly regarded administrator. This year, Norris is busy overseeing the university's complex national re-accreditation process. She invests considerable time to make it a successful enterprise every few years. "Dr. Norris has made such a strong, positive impact on MC over her career," Brantley said. "We're delighted to be able to honor her." The scholarship bearing her name, he said, "will help bring other influential transfers to our campus community."

Mississippi College students selected for Rural Physician Scholarships will receive a $120,000 scholarship to medical school at UMMC in Jackson, Mississippi.

Four Mississippi College grads were selected to receive a $120,000 scholarship over four years to UMMC in Jackson, Mississippi. Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program awards to 61 medical students totaled $1.83 million this fall. Three privately funded scholarships were awarded this year from the Madison Charitable Foundation, the Selby and Richard McRae Foundation and the Medical Assurance Company of Mississippi. Other benefits from the scholarships include personalized mentoring from practicing rural physicians and academic support. The MRPSP scholar must provide four years of service in a clinic-based practice in a Mississippi community of 15,000 or fewer people. The program is based at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

Mississippi College juniors Ali Pike, Taylor Cupit, Katelyn Brock and Allie Boyd are scholarship recipients.

Maury City sits 30 miles west of Jackson, Tennessee. The Crockett County community of 674 people (more or less) is the hometown of Mississippi College student Caleb Waddey. A current recipient of the Clarence Smith Sr. scholarship, Waddey says awards like this made it possible for him to attend Mississippi College. It enables him to take classes preparing for a law enforcement career.

A future pastor, Scott Dunaway is the latest recipient of the Byrd Memorial Preaching Award at Mississippi College.

Arleigh Seymour will represent the Christian university she cherishes as the new Miss Mississippi College Scholarship Pageant winner. A 19-year-old sophomore, Arleigh is an English writing major from Vancleave on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. "MC has been a place for me to grow as a woman of the Lord, and a student. MC has also become a home to me." On February 1, Seymour prevailed over three other contestants for the title on the Clinton campus. She succeeds Jesse Bingham, 21, of Terry. Jesse gave the glory to God for making it happen when a door opened for her to become Miss MC in the Fall 2017.

Two Mississippi College accounting students are the newest recipients of scholarships to attend a national conference in Washington, D.C.

Jacey Jarnagin was awarded a $1000 academic scholarship from TheDietDynamo.com