Mississippi Christian University

Since arriving July 1, Dr. Thompson demonstrated he's a student-oriented leader on the Clinton campus. So it makes sense that MC students will play a key role during inauguration week activities on the Clinton campus.

About 100 educators and students will attend the Mississippi Writing Center Association's 2019 conference. Writing Center advocates at Hinds Community College in Raymond and Mississippi College in Clinton will partner to sponsor the sessions on their campuses. The dates are March 22-23. The meetings will draw educators and students from colleges statewide.

Networking with hundreds of the nation's most successful accountants always reaps terrific benefits for Mississippi College students. MC senior Nathan Lambert, 20, of Middleburg, Florida is among two students on the Clinton campus to recently attend Association of Government Accountants meetings. The late February sessions in Washington provided numerous opportunities to learn more about the accounting profession and cultivate valuable career relationships.

Sharing the love of Jesus with people in 10 countries will be the goal of Mississippi College students on upcoming summer mission trips. \

Hours before Mississippi College's 2019 Career Day got started, Navy and Air Force recruiters signed up. It boosted the turnout to 87 employers sizing up hundreds of MC students. The MC Office of Career Services sponsored the February 12 event that shattered records. Recruiters from banks, hospitals, accounting firms, school districts, the government and other employment sectors networked with hundreds of students. After Tuesday's four-hour event wrapped up, MC leaders were elated with the response at a packed Anderson Hall. "The 87 employers was the most we've ever had," said Taylor Ormon, associate director of the Office of Career Services. "We worked hard to get more healthcare people here. All of the employers seemed very pleased." Employers visited from across Mississippi as well as states like Tennessee and Alabama. From the FBI to the Secret Service, from WJTV-12 in Jackson to the Clinton Public School District, recruiters filled tables with loads of job-related information. Ormon was delighted with the strong response from students in fields such as nursing, business or education. A Career Day fun run on the Clinton campus Monday helped promote the annual event. MC senior Jamie Cosby, 21, of Richland liked seeing so many recruiters under one roof within a few minutes. "This is a good place to get my resume out there," Cosby said after meeting with Clinton public schools leaders. "I don't need to travel to each school district," adds the education major. Clinton District Superintendent Tim Martin and public information officer Sandi Beason believe students came to the right place. About 65 percent of the teachers and staff in the Clinton district are Mississippi College graduates. It's clearly a sign that Mississippi College maintains a strong partnership with one of the Magnolia State's premier school districts. SGA Vice President Alex Rodriguez stopped by the Trustmark bank table and chatted with staffer Grant Melancon, a 2018 MC finance graduate. "They bring it all to you," says Rodriguez, a senior from Houston, Texas. "This helps." Students like Rodriguez were sharply dressed in suits or other formal attire as they made the rounds. A former Lady Choctaws basketball player with an undergraduate degree and MBA from Mississippi College, Olivia Mabry loved returning to her alma mater. Olivia works for Community Bank. She teamed up with colleagues Tammy Phillips, Mary Elizabeth Dulaney and Jacqueline Williams to recruit students. Nursing students Madison Beall of Birmingham, Alabama and Allie Wilson of Winona took advantage of the chance to instantly network with potential employers. Mississippi College graduate Chris Roebuck, marketing coordinator with WJTV-12, says there are several sales positions open at the Jackson TV station. "It's a good economy." MC graduate Mitchell Castro, a financial analyst at Raytheon in Forest, encouraged students to give his national company a good look. Raytheon now employs 800 people at its Forest plant and the number will grow in the new year. "There is so much work going on." Students with engineering degrees are welcome, but so are other majors, like business, at Raytheon in Scott County. FBI recruiter Erica Parker says students should check out internships as well as full-time jobs. Six MC students are taking part in FBI internships. "We are always hiring special agents, but also non-law enforcement positions all over the USA." Jobs are available at the Mississippi Department of Health. Recruiter Dawn Cuello says the Jackson-based agency will pick up a $25,000 to $50,000 student loan repayment for graduates working in underserved areas in Mississippi.

Wearing out their dancing shoes, Mississippi College students raised more than $42,222 to benefit the Blair Batson Children's Hospital. During a lively Dance Marathon, students topped their $40,000 goal on the Clinton campus on November 15. There was time for slices of pizza, plenty of ice cream, cotton candy and loads of fun during the six-hour event. Sophomore Jill Dickerson, 20, of Memphis loved every minute she stayed on the dance floor at Anderson Hall. Raising money for patients at the Blair Batson Children's Hospital was thrilling. "But it also gave us a chance to hear their stories and hang out with them here on our own campus," she said. "Plus, we're with all our friends dancing, eating and laughing. It's an event I look forward to each year," says Dickerson, a public relations major. Led by talented instructors, Mississippi College students tried Celtic dancing, hip-hop, Zumba, swing, salsa and other swift dance moves on Thursday evening. Student Government Association President Anthony Jackson of Mound Bayou was elated the Christian university's administrators teamed with undergrads to make this event so successful. "The knowledge and inspiration passed from the administration is a prime example of how we train both the head and heart of our students here at Mississippi College," Jackson says. "Hats off to the directors and the young servant leaders of tomorrow. They made a lot of families happy." Mississippi College's third annual dance marathon featured solid organizational support from the freshmen leadership experience group. Administrators like Jonathan Ambrose have remained closely involved with MC dance marathons since day one. The Fall event taught students valuable lessons about servant leadership, said Ambrose, assistant vice president for student affairs. "To witness them putting it into action was simply incredible." The activity raised awareness about the vital role the state's children's hospital plays at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. It showed "the importance of this hospital in our area," he said. The hospital treats thousands of children each year in more than 30 specialty areas. The medical facility in Jackson offers everything from emergency care to highly specialized heart and cancer services for kids. Mississippi College's 2017 dance marathon raised $23,312. This year's marathon nearly doubled the effort a year ago. About 250 MC students participated on that Thursday evening until midnight. "MC students outdid themselves this year," said Jen Hospodor, director of community partnerships at UMMC. "We are so grateful for their hard work and generosity." The funds raised will stay in Mississippi to help Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and patients at the Blair Batson Children's Hospital.

Working several hours at a health fair at the Mississippi Baptist Convention provided good practice for School of Nursing students

The USA's strong economy, the Donald Trump presidency and international security issues could be topics facing the Mississippi College debate team.

Baptist Global Response leaders are focused on helping a hurting world. Families going hungry, poverty-stricken people drinking dirty water and farmers needing better techniques to raise better crops or livestock are causes they support. At the same time, they seek to spread the message of Jesus. In recent weeks, about 100 Mississippi College business students joined forces to aid Baptist Global Response efforts. This Fall, MC students associated with a half-dozen business organizations on the Clinton campus raised more than $3,000 to assist the organization. Poor communities in Central America, South America and Africa will reap the benefits of the MC donations. Southern Baptist leaders from all walks of life serve on the group's nine-member board of directors. School of Business Dean Marcelo Eduardo joined professors in Self Hall applauding the students for their spirited efforts to make the initiative a success. "Our aim is to prepare highly successful business graduates that have the utmost integrity and a great sense of service to others," Eduardo said. "This project exemplifies that sense of service and the desire to help others." The MC School of Business groups teaming up included the accounting society, women in business, the American Marketing Association, and the entrepreneurship club. The investment club and service club rounded out the student groups lending a hand. Members of School of Business organizations set up tables in the school cafeteria and held activities at Alumni Hall to raise dollars, said senior Reid Allen of Birmingham, Alabama. It was the first year the business students worked together on the Baptist Global Response's bio-farm project. The drive helps to make more families around the globe become sustainable, added MC senior Chris Thomason of Birmingham. "The accounting society won the challenge of raising the most funds," Eduardo said. "But it was a group effort." Faculty members, he said, "are so proud of our students." In 2017, Baptist Global Response efforts helped 937,386 people around the world. The BGR projects impacted 3,058 communities. Baptist Global Response officials estimate the cost of a donation of $60 per month will help a family build a new life following a disaster.

Mississippi College students love helping orphaned children in Guatemala.

Mississippi College's new media lab continues to generate positive buzz among students on the Clinton campus.

Captain of Mississippi College's archery team, Morgan Hamilton is proud of the Blue & Gold squad's accomplishments all season.

America's healthy economy added to the recipe for success at Mississippi College's Career Day. There were 81 employers sizing up hundreds of students at the university's 2018 event on the Clinton campus February 13. Openings were plentiful and so were internships. MC's electrical engineering program attracted the attention of people at the huge Nissan plant in Canton. But so are majors like business and communications, says Nissan recruiter David Nieminen, a 1999 MC graduate. Nissan employs nearly 10,000 people at its Canton site. "Opportunities are ongoing," at Nissan operations in Mississippi and around the globe, he said. MC electrical engineering majors like Thomas Hamrick of Houston, Texas and Samantha Tidrick of Biloxi stopped by the Nissan table during the four-hour event at Anderson Hall. "This was my first time and it seems to be very diverse" with all types of companies represented, says Tidrick, 20, an MC junior. "I'm hearing about internships. It was nice to see people face to face." It was like old times for a number of employers returning to their alma mater. A year ago, Mississippi College senior Peyton Brown of Brandon was busy hunting for a job at MC's Career Day. On Tuesday, the MC graduate was recruiting students as a credit analyst with Community Bank. Peyton once served as an MC orientation leader. Now he's telling prospective employees about the benefits of working at the bank. MC public relations major Tyer Chambliss of Mobile, Alabama was among the students expressing interest. It wasn't her only stop at Career Day. "I've talked to a few." The MC Career Fair comes amid reports of a bright USA economy. Fueling the optimism were the tax cuts signed into law by President Donald Trump in December. Over 90 percent of middle class Americans will receive a tax cut. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts total employment will increase by 20.5 million jobs from 2010 to 2020 with the most significant growth in healthcare as the population ages. "Everything is trending up," says MC Office of Career Services Director Jim Miller. His office sponsored the program that drew 300 to 400 students between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Miller says companies project to hire more interns and will fill many jobs as graduation nears for the Class of 2018 in May. "We've met many good prospects," said Sandi Beason, public information officer for the Clinton Public School District. "Students are coming well-prepared and well-dressed." Over the next few weeks, the Clinton district will know more about specific openings for next year. MC students are encouraged to watching for openings on the district's website. About 62 percent of the teachers, staff and administrators in the Clinton public schools are Mississippi College graduates. "We have a very strong partnership," Beason said as Clinton's assistant superintendent Anthony Goins looked on. The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center in Vicksburg, the state Auditor's Office, Mississippi Public Broadcasting, WJTV-12, Regions bank, the Horne CPA group, St. Dominic Hospital, the University of Mississippi Medical Center and dozens of others brought recruiters to meet MC students. Seeking a master's degree in business administration, Mauricio Quijano, of Brandon left impressed. "This is a very good way to make contacts and meet people," says the 43-year-old native of Colombia in South America. He made the MPB table one of his stops before touching base with other companies at Mississippi College's Career Day.

Whether students can bench press 140 pounds, squat to lift 300 pounds or deadlift 285 pounds, that's really immaterial. The MC Choctaws club team is alive, well, and gaining strength.

Runners should gear up for a fun experience while getting plenty of exercise at the Jingle Jog 5K. Mississippi College physician assistant students are sponsoring the December 9 race in Clinton. The fee to enter is $30, and that includes post-race snacks, a shirt with long white cotton sleeves and the chance to receive door prizes. The race begins at 8 a.m. that Friday at First Baptist Church Clinton and it ends there as well. Kids under age 10 are invited to participate in a fun run starting at 9 a.m. The MC PA Donald Fisher Society serves as the official sponsor of the second annual road race. Funds raised will send MC PA students in the Class of 2019 to the American Academy of Physician Assistants Conference. It takes place May 19-23 at the Ernest Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. Last year's physician assistants' national convention in Las Vegas attracted 7,000 guests to a blitz of informative meetings with medical leaders in the fast-growing field. It opened doors to lots of networking opportunities for medical professionals and students. There are 115,500 physician assistants located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. Packets for the Jingle Jog race can be picked up on Friday December 8 at the Baptist Healthplex on the Clinton campus. Mississippi College leaders welcomed the state's first Physician Assistant program in 2011. The program began with 30 students and today enrolls more than 90 graduate students at its Baptist Healthplex headquarters. The 30-month program gives students the professional tools to work under the supervision of physicians. A race organizer, and physician assistant student LaKendra Wiley, predicts a solid turnout for the upcoming holiday season event. There were 100 runners at the 2016 PA road race. The 31-year-old Mobile, Alabama resident expects more Mississippians will lace up their running shoes and compete in this year's activities. The race is open to the public. For more information, contact LaKendra Wiley at lcwiley@mc.edu or Renee Kendrick at the Department of Physician Assistant Studies at 601-925-7371 or jrkendrick@mc.edu