Published: February 10, 2008 12:24 am            

Community backs education through giving

It's easy to say you're pro-economic development.

Heck, who isn't?

But it's quite another thing to do something about it.

There are a number of business owners and others in East Mississippi who continue to put their money where their mouth is by continuing to give so that people can go to college without worrying about the cost. Meridian Community College has one of the most heralded programs in the country with its Guaranteed Tuition. It's simple: graduate from high school in Lauderdale County and your tuition at MCC is guaranteed as long as you maintain a C average.

You'd be hard pressed to find a better tool for recruiting industry. As important as all levels of education are to economic development, few can boast the direct skills taught by community colleges. And now that MCC has purchased the old Wal-Mart building on Highway 19 — where they are developing an advanced skills training center complete with robotic arms, programmable logic controllers, etc. — they are even more poised to offer industries a direct example of the college's ability to provide a skilled workforce.

It's one thing to talk about vision and what will happen in the future, but it's a much more powerful statement to say, "this is what we've already done." MCC — under the leadership of Dr. Elliott — is doing the work now.

But they can't do it alone.

A group of business owners, powered by the spunky direction of Kathy Brookshire, started work recently to begin calling on people in the community to continue to give. They have to raise the money each year to sustain the program. When economic times are down, they continue to give.

"... but during times when the economy was ebbing, people gave more than ever to support The MCC Foundation," Dr. Elliott told us during a recent editorial board interview. "That tells me that there are people in our community who believe in what we are doing and can see the results."

It's amazing really. But as one board member of the MCC Foundation recently told me, "this is the easiest sell in town; no one can say no."

What's also amazing: the impact that giving has on this community, particularly the people. Imagine the hundreds of people who are afforded the opportunity of a quality education at one of the finest community colleges in the South because of that giving. It's incredible.

And I was one of those fortunate ones. I attended two years of college at MCC without paying a dime thanks in large part to this program. Those years shaped me. I will forever be indebted to those business owners who gave so that I could continue my education without the burden of paying for it. Honestly, I never thought about those men and women who gave when I walked the halls of MCC; today, I am greatly appreciative.

Those business owners should be credited for putting Meridian on the map. And there's no doubt the continued giving will ensure the future of East Mississippi. I'm proud to be from a community that cares so much. This story, like the countless others unique to our area, is one we should tell over and over. It's something to be proud of, hold your head high.

Hats off to this community, particularly the MCC Foundation and those who contribute to such a worthy cause.

To learn more about the program, visit — www.mcc.cc.ms.us/ catalog/tuguar.htm.



Fredie Carmichael is editor of The Meridian Star. E-mail him at fcarmichael@themeridianstar.com.

        

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